http://jsfiddle.net/chQ2T/4/
<input id="search_field" type="text" placeholder="Search">
<div id = "container">
<div id = "abc" class = "box">
ABC
</div>
<div id = "cde" class = "box">
CDE
</div>
<div id = "efg" class = "box">
EFG
</div>
</div>
function hide_divs(search) {
$("#container > div").hide(); // hide all divs
$('#container > div[id*="'+search+'"]').show(); // show the ones that match
}
$(document).ready(function() {
$("#search_field").keyup(function() {
var search = $.trim(this.value);
hide_divs(search);
});
});