# Does the auto complete element allow free input?

**URL:** <https://community.weweb.io/t/does-the-auto-complete-element-allow-free-input/8096>\
**Category:** How do I?\
**Created:** [April 13, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/does-the-auto-complete-element-allow-free-input/8096 "2024-04-13T03:51:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jeremytang](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.weweb.io/jeremytang/32/8120_2.png) [@jeremytang](https://community.weweb.io/u/jeremytang)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/does-the-auto-complete-element-allow-free-input/8096/1 "2024-04-13T03:51:51Z")

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I’m looking to use an autocomplete element, much like an input with a simple datalist. However it seems like the autocomplete will not allow users to enter text that isn’t in the options list.  
Is this possible?

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**Author:** ![Doc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.weweb.io/doc/32/8594_2.png) [@Doc](https://community.weweb.io/u/Doc)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 4:36am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/does-the-auto-complete-element-allow-free-input/8096/2 "2024-04-28T04:36:07Z")

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Thank you for your question. Let me check with the team and see how we can assist you. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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**Author:** ![Broberto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.weweb.io/broberto/32/5918_2.png) [@Broberto](https://community.weweb.io/u/Broberto)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 7:31am UTC](https://community.weweb.io/t/does-the-auto-complete-element-allow-free-input/8096/3 "2024-04-28T07:31:46Z")

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What you can do, is the following:

1. With an `On search` workflow save the text that’s being written into a variable  
 ![Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 09.34.06](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/weweb/original/2X/8/84b1f8e3220b8f5f710b2ff02db02be866e7427b.jpeg)
2. Bind the text to a collection filter / send the variable to your backend/api, make sure to fetch your collection on search (add an another workflow action to do so).  
 ![Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 09.37.34](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/weweb/original/2X/1/168316549b64c3ec03db8fb93a0d31b3cb2dee6c.jpeg)
3. Bind the collection to the option list  
 ![Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 09.36.00](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/weweb/original/2X/c/c4d234dd70b47a58c5d40750b5773fe21c0eb049.jpeg)

Now your “options” will appear dynamically as the collection changes each time 🙂