@@ -646,11 +646,11 @@ const handleDownFromListOption = (event) => {
 };
 
 /**
- * Handle the tab event from an list option element within the combo box component.
+ * Handle the space event from an list option element within the combo box component.
  *
  * @param {KeyboardEvent} event An event within the combo box component
  */
-const handleTabFromListOption = (event) => {
+const handleSpaceFromListOption = (event) => {
   selectItem(event.target);
   event.preventDefault();
 };
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ const comboBox = behavior(
         ArrowDown: handleDownFromListOption,
         Down: handleDownFromListOption,
         Enter: handleEnterFromListOption,
-        Tab: handleTabFromListOption,
+        " ": handleSpaceFromListOption,
         "Shift+Tab": noop,
       }),
     },
 
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ tests.forEach(({ name, selector: containerSelector }) => {
         );
       });
 
-      it("should select the focused list item in the list when pressing tab on a focused item", () => {
+      it("should select the focused list item in the list when pressing space on a focused item", () => {
         select.value = "cantaloupe";
         input.value = "berry";
         EVENTS.input(input);
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ tests.forEach(({ name, selector: containerSelector }) => {
           "should focus the first item in the list"
         );
 
-        EVENTS.keydownTab(focusedOption);
+        EVENTS.keydownSpace(focusedOption);
 
         assert.strictEqual(
           select.value,
 
@@ -68,6 +68,18 @@ EVENTS.keydownTab = (el) => {
   el.dispatchEvent(evt);
 };
 
+/**
+ * send a keydown Space event
+ * @param {HTMLElement} el the element to sent the event to
+ */
+EVENTS.keydownSpace = (el) => {
+  const evt = new KeyboardEvent("keydown", {
+    bubbles: true,
+    key: " ",
+  });
+  el.dispatchEvent(evt);
+};
+
 /**
  * send a keydown ArrowDown event
  * @param {HTMLElement} el the element to sent the event to