Understanding Refs in React and When to Use Them

What Are Refs in React?

A Ref is a special attribute in React that allows you to access and interact with DOM nodes directly. Unlike React’s usual "reactive" approach, where UI updates based on state changes, Refs let you get behind the scenes, offering a way to access and manipulate DOM elements imperatively.

const inputRef = useRef(null);

In the code above, the useRef hook is used to create a Ref object that we can later attach to a DOM element. Initially, the Ref is set to null, but when attached to a DOM node, it will reference that element.

How to Use Refs in React

You can use Refs in React for different purposes. The most common use case is for accessing DOM elements directly without needing to use event handlers. Here’s an example where Refs are used to focus an input field.

function TextInputWithFocusButton() {
  const inputRef = useRef(null);

  const focusInput = () => {
    inputRef.current.focus();
  };

  return (
    <>
      <input ref={inputRef} type="text" placeholder="Enter text here" />
      <button onClick={focusInput}>Focus Input</button>
    </>
  );
}
        

In this example, the inputRef Ref is assigned to the input element. By calling inputRef.current.focus() in the focusInput function, we can directly manipulate the DOM element by focusing on the input when the button is clicked.

When Should You Use Refs?

Refs should be used sparingly in React since they break the declarative pattern of state-driven UI updates. However, they are useful in certain situations:

• Managing Focus and Text Selection: As demonstrated in the previous example, Refs are helpful when you need to focus or select text inside input fields programmatically.
• Triggering Animations: Refs can be useful when integrating third-party libraries for animations where direct DOM manipulation is necessary.
• Storing Mutable Values: Refs can store values that persist across renders without triggering re-renders when they are updated.
• Accessing Child Components: Refs allow you to call methods on child components when necessary.

Keep in mind, whenever possible, React’s declarative approach should be favored over Refs to keep your components clean and maintainable.

Conclusion

Refs in React provide a powerful way to interact directly with the DOM or a component instance. While they are extremely useful for handling scenarios that can’t be managed with state or props, they should be used with care. Keep your use of Refs limited to cases where you truly need direct DOM access, and rely on React’s declarative model for most other tasks.

Now that you understand Refs and when to use them, you’re one step closer to mastering React!