Question

How could it be done that I make an Ajax Search after the user typed in 3 characters?
I’m not that expert in javascript, but here’s my HTML file so far:

<form>
<input type="text" id="searchField" name="searchField" placeholder="...">
</form>

<script>
    $('#searchField').searchbox({
    url: 'components/search_ajax.php',
    param: 'q',
    dom_id: '#searchResult',
    delay: 0,
    loading_css: '#spinner'
    });
</script>

At the moment the search is called just when the backspace button is pressed (then all of my database entries are represented because there is a match-search with no character).

Thanks in advance!
Regards.

Answer 1

Firstly, you’ll need to let us know which plugin you’re using, I have a feeling it is this, if it is, change:

process: function(terms) {

to

process: function(terms) {
  if(terms.length < 3) return;

But you should also limit this on your server side, otherwise I can just go directly to your script to view all entries. You can do this at the top of your php file with:

if(strlen(trim($_GET['q'])) < 3) return; // only basic, would need more checks