javascript - jQuery UI autocomplete with objects

Question

I'm using jQuery 1.11.2 and trying to get the autocomplete widget to parse a data array. I have to people in the array, Will Smith and Willem Dafoe. I expected to see both of the names be added to the dropdown list when I enter Wi in the text field, yet I get no response. Here is a copy of the code:

<script src="js/jquery/jquery-1.11.2.js"></script>
<script src="js/jquery/jquery-ui.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="js/jquery/jquery-ui.css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="js/jquery/jquery-ui.theme.css"/>

<script type="text/javascript">
$(function() {
    var data = [
        {
            "id": 1,
            "first_name": "Will",
            "last_name": "Smith",
            "created_at": "2015-01-27T13:09:20.243Z",
            "updated_at": "2015-01-27T13:09:20.243Z"
        },
        {
            "id": 2,
            "first_name": "Willem",
            "last_name": "Dafoe",
            "created_at": "2015-01-27T13:17:23.479Z",
            "updated_at": "2015-01-27T13:17:23.479Z"
        }
    ];
    // Below is the name of the textfield that will be autocomplete    
    $('#search').autocomplete({
        // This shows the min length of charcters that must be typed before the autocomplete looks for a match.
        minLength: 2,
        // This is the source of the auocomplete suggestions. In this case a list of names from the people controller, in JSON format.
        source:data,
        // This updates the textfield when you move the updown the suggestions list, with your keyboard. In our case it will reflect the same value that you see in the     suggestions which is the person.given_name.
        focus: function(event, ui) {
            $('#search').val(ui.item.first_name);
            return false;
        },
        // Once a value in the drop down list is selected, do the following:
        select: function(event, ui) {
            // place the person.given_name value into the textfield called 'select_origin'...
            $('#search').val(ui.item.first_name);
            // and place the person.id into the hidden textfield called 'link_origin_id'. 
            $('#link_origin_id').val(ui.item.id);
                return false;
        }
    }).data( "ui-autocomplete" )._renderItem = function( ul, item ) {
        return $( "<li></li>" ).data( "ui-autocomplete-item", item ).append( "<a>" + item.first_name + "</a>" ).appendTo( ul );
        // For now which just want to show the person.given_name in the list.                             
    };
});
</script>


Search: <input type="text" id="search" />

The code is all in a single html folder on the local drive. No server is involved at this point. Also, I've checked the inspect element tool for errors, but none are shown and all resources are found and loaded.

Answer 1

The problem was Autocomplete couldn't render the source for its functioning.

You need to set the source of the autocomplete based on the JSON data present using ,

source: function (request, response) {
           //data :: JSON list defined
           response($.map(data, function (value, key) {
                return {
                    label: value.first_name,
                    value: value.id
                }
            }));
        
    },

And, I also removed the .data callback from the code.

See the working code here