ComboBox - Keyboard Support

• Jun 26, 2025
• 3 minutes to read

The DevExpress Blazor ComboBox supports keyboard navigation. Users can focus the editor’s input element, navigate within the drop-down item list, and select items. While DOM focus refers to the input element as the active element for keyboard interaction, visual focus can move to items in the drop-down list. Keyboard navigation is also supported in virtual scroll mode.

Note

Keyboard support allows users who cannot use a mouse or rely on assistive technologies (like screen readers or switch devices) to interact with application content. Refer to the Accessibility help topic for information on other accessibility areas that we address.

Run Demo: ComboBox

Shortcut Keys for Input Element

The following shortcut keys are available when the editor’s input element is focused:

Shortcut Keys	Description
Tab	Moves focus to the next focusable element on a page. Note that the drop-down button, custom buttons, and the Clear button are excluded from the page tab sequence. If AllowUserInput is set to true, the entered characters are applied as a custom value.
Shift + Tab	Moves focus to the previous focusable element on a page.
Alt + Delete	Clears the input element.
Characters	Adds characters to the input if AllowUserInput is set to true.
Backspace, Delete	Removes characters in the input element if AllowUserInput is set to true.
Home	Moves focus to the first character in the input element if AllowUserInput is set to true.
End	Moves focus to the last item in the input element if AllowUserInput is set to true.
Right Arrow	Moves the cursor one character to the right in the input element if AllowUserInput is set to true. When the cursor reaches the right edge, nothing happens.
Left Arrow	Moves the cursor one character to the left in the input element if AllowUserInput is set to true. When the cursor reaches the left edge, nothing happens.
Alt + Down Arrow	Opens the drop-down list, but keeps focus on the input element.

Shortcut Keys for Drop-Down Item List

The following shortcut keys are available when the drop-down list is opened:

Shortcut Keys	Description
Up Arrow	Moves focus one item up.
Down Arrow	Moves focus one item down.
Ctrl + Shift + Home	Moves focus to the first item on the list.
Ctrl + Shift + End	Moves focus to the last item on the list.
Page Up	Moves focus to an item on the previous page.
Page Down	Moves focus to an item on the following page.
Tab	Selects the focused item, updates the Value parameter value, closes the drop-down list, moves focus to the input element.
Enter	Selects the focused item, updates Value and Text parameter values, and closes the drop-down list.
Escape, Alt + Up Arrow	Closes the drop-down list.

The ComboBox does not currently allow you to navigate through elements in templated items.