Java tutorial
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent; import java.awt.event.ActionListener; import javax.swing.JComboBox; public class Main { public static void main(String[] argv) throws Exception { String[] items = { "item1", "item2" }; JComboBox cb = new JComboBox(items); cb.setEditable(true); // Create and register listener MyActionListener actionListener = new MyActionListener(); cb.addActionListener(actionListener); } } class MyActionListener implements ActionListener { Object oldItem; public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) { JComboBox cb = (JComboBox) evt.getSource(); Object newItem = cb.getSelectedItem(); boolean same = newItem.equals(oldItem); oldItem = newItem; if ("comboBoxEdited".equals(evt.getActionCommand())) { // User has typed in a string; only possible with an editable combobox } else if ("comboBoxChanged".equals(evt.getActionCommand())) { // User has selected an item; it may be the same item } } }