gistfile1.js

dojo.declare('hitpost.Search', dijit._Widget, {

    // not necessary:
	// searchTimeout : null,

	cache : {}, // NOTE: thisis a shared member, like a static. create it in postCreate
	// if you want a unique cache for each instance. Otherwise, thisis fine. 

	// no need for a blank constructor
	// constructor : function(args) { },
	
	postCreate : function() {
		this.target = dojo.byId('search_results');
		this.input = dojo.query('#search input')[0];
		
		// use _Widget's .connect method. it scopes and disconnects for you
		this.connect(this.input, "onkeyup", "_doSearch");
		this.connect(this.input, "onblur", "_hideSearch");
	},
	
	_hideSearch : function() {
		dojo.removeClass(this.target, 'visible');
	},
	
	_doSearch : function() {
	    this.searchTimeout && clearTimeout(this.searchTimeout);
		this.searchTimeout = setTimeout(dojo.hitch(this, "_realSearch"), 300);
	},
		
	_realSearch: function() {
		var val = this.input.value;
		dojo.addClass(this.input, 'loading');

		if (val.length > 2) {
			if (this.cache[val]) {
				this._handleResult(this.cache[val]);
			} else {
				var xhr = dojo.xhrGet({
					url : '/html/search/' + val,
					// handleAs : 'text', // text is default
					load : dojo.hitch(this, "_handleResult")
				});
			}
		} else {
			this._hideSearch();
		}
	},
	
	_handleResult : function(html) {
	    dojo.removeClass(this.input, 'loading');
		dojo.addClass(this.target, 'visible');
		this.target.innerHTML = html;
	}
	
});