Multi-Valued Auto-Complete With GWT and REST

  • 10/1/2012
  • One-minute read

Legacy GWT applications often need token-style auto-complete widgets for email lists or tags. The approach in Zack Grossbart’s tutorial remains one of the clearest examples for integrating SuggestBox with REST services.

Key Implementation Points

  • Wrap MultiWordSuggestOracle to fetch suggestions asynchronously from your REST endpoint.
  • Use a FlowPanel and custom TagWidget to render each selected value with a remove icon.
  • Debounce network calls to prevent flooding the server as users type.

Reference Implementation

Modern Alternatives

  • If you maintain a GWT 2.x codebase, evaluate gwt-material or Sencha GXT TagField for built-in multi-select widgets.
  • New projects should prefer React/Vue components with accessible ARIA patterns (aria-multiselectable) to meet current UX guidelines.
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