<input id="combobox" /> <script> $("#combobox").kendoComboBox({ dataSource: [ "Apples", "Oranges" ] }); var combobox = $("#combobox").data("kendoComboBox"); // Search for items starting with "A" - will open the suggestion popup and show "Apples" combobox.search("A"); // Close the suggestion popup combobox.close(); </script>