How to create autocomplete textbox search using asp .net MVC c# application.

In this tutorial I am going to implement autocomplete textbox for searching customer records using asp.net MVC c# application.  When the user enter for search customer, it suggests record for customer records in a dropdown menu.

Step 1: Here, I am using northwind database, Create an ADO.NET Entity Model and connect the database. We will be using Customer table for search records.

Step 2: Create a Controller name it as search and copy and paste the following code.

  Models db = new Models();
                
        public JsonResult GetCustomers(string term)
 
        {
 
            List<string> Customers = db.Customers.Where(s => s.ContactName.StartsWith(term))
 
                .Select(x =>x.ContactName).ToList();
 
            return Json(Customers, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet); 
        }

Step 4: Should refer the following code in required place and I am reffered in my Layout page.

<link href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.1/themes/base/jquery-ui.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> 
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.1/jquery-ui.min.js"></script>

Step 5: Copy and paste the following code in the design page index.cshtml.

@{
    ViewBag.Title = "CUSTOMER SEARCH";
}
<br />
<br />
<br />
 
<script type="text/javascript">
    $(document).ready(function() {

       $("#txtSearch").autocomplete({
 
            source: '@Url.Action("GetCustomers","Search")',
 
            minLength: 1
 
        });
    });
 
</script>

<div class="form-group">
    SEARCH:
    @Html.TextBox("searchTerm",null, new { id = "txtSearch", Class = "autosuggest"})
</div>

RESULT: