if you use MyFaces, you might use t:inputText instead of h:inputText . You can attach suggestionbox to any components that has a value attribute and onxxxx event set. This is an idea of 'for' attribute that allows to enhance the existing component instead of replacing it. This is similar a4j:support. It enhances the existing component rather than requires to replace existing component with new one having built-in Ajax support. Actually, both approaches (enhancing and built-in) make sense. We use them both in Ajax4jsf and RichFaces. View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4044842#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...