Example usage of WordPress autocomplete functionality

javascript

// AJAX USER SEARCH
$('#pdsm_teacher').suggest(
	ajaxurl+'?action=pdsm_teacher_search',
	{
		delay: 500,
		minchars: 2,
		onSelect: function() {
			var selected = $('ul.ac_results li.ac_over span.suggest-result-name').text();
			this.value = selected;
		}
	}
);

php hook

<?php

add_action( 'wp_ajax_pdsm_teacher_search', 'teacher_search' );
function teacher_search() {
	if ( !current_user_can( 'edit_pdsm_classes' ) )
		die( '-1' );

	$s = $_GET['q']; // is this slashed already?

	$s = trim( $s );
	if ( strlen( $s ) < 2 )
		die; // require 2 chars for matching

	$users = get_users( array( 'search' => "*$s*", 'role' => 'pdsm_teacher' ) );
	foreach( $users as $user ) :
		echo '<div class="suggest-result" style="padding: 5px 0; width: 300px;">';
			echo '<span class="suggest-result-img" style="float: left; padding-right: 5px;">';
				echo get_avatar( $user->user_email, 30 ).'</span>';
					
			echo '<span class="suggest-result-name" style="display: block;">';
				echo $user->user_login.'</span>';
					
			echo '<span class="suggest-result-email" style="display: block;">';
				echo $user->user_email.'</span>';
			echo '<div class="clear"></div>';
		echo '</div>';
		echo "\n";
	endforeach;
	die;
}