Auto-complete multi-select tag input

[JwanKhalaf]

What

An auto-complete, multi-select input like the below:

Why

In many of the internal forms within NHS, we often need to select multiple entries from a database that has 1000s of records. We can't use checkboxes or a multi-select drop down because there are 1000s of entries.

An auto-complete, multi-select would be ideal.

I am part of the NHS Pathways team and I am currently working on a form that requires this functionality.

What evidence do you have that it meets the needs of the users of those services?

It was proposed as a solution in one of our team meetings.

Have you checked that it doesn't already exist in the NHS digital service manual?

Yep, I checked and couldn't see it.

[chrimesdev]

Possibly related component: Autocomplete - #111

[gazjoy]

@AdamChrimes I think this pattern looks similar to some of the work posted on the GDS design system backlog. Have a look at the thread for the "filter a list" pattern. alphagov/govuk-design-system-backlog#133

Interesting concept but i'd wonder what happens to the remaining space in the input as each keyword is added as they are searched for. I would imagine that by filling the input it will quickly become unwieldy and difficult to use. Dropping the keywords below the input as a checked list or another separate component could be something to test.