[Feature Request] Support for Circular Navigation in Autocomplete Component

[kimskovhusandersen]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

It would be great to add circular navigation to the Autocomplete component. This would let users move directly from the last item to the first (and vice versa) with the arrow keys, creating a smoother and more intuitive experience.

Right now, when the Autocomplete component is reopened, focus is set to the currently selected item, often in the middle of the list. This can make navigation harder, especially for screen reader users. Screen readers only announce the item in focus, so items before it are not announced unless the user navigates back manually.
For keyboard users, navigating through long lists without circular navigation can also be frustrating and inefficient. For example, if a user is focused on an item near the bottom and wants to explore other options, they must manually go back to the top or navigate down item by item to loop through the list.

Circular navigation would make it easier to navigate and explore options. A user could:

• Press the "down" arrow at the last item to return to the first item.
• Press the "up" arrow at the first item to go to the last.
  This would ensure screen readers announce all items, and users can navigate lists more efficiently.

Describe the solution you'd like

The focus wraps around from the last to the first item (and vice versa) seamlessly.
Screen readers continue to announce items correctly during navigation.

Describe alternatives you've considered

We have considered using other component libraries, like Downshift.js, which support this functionality out of the box. However, introducing a new library would increase complexity and dev time, so it would be ideal if this feature were supported directly in the current library.

Screenshots or Videos

No response

[linear[bot]]

ENG-1861 [Feature Request] Support for Circular Navigation in Autocomplete Component