How to use useRef Hook properly in React Functional Component

by Abdul Rawoof A R Updated: Jan 24, 2023

React's "useRef" hook produces a mutable ref object with the provided argument initialized to its ".current" attribute (initialValue). The returned object will remain persistent for the whole component's lifespan.

The "useRef" hook can be used to hold a reference to any value, including an instance of a React component or a DOM element. This can be beneficial when you need to access an element's value from outside the React component, such as to conduct DOM modification or transfer the data to an external library.

Here's an example of how you can use the useRef hook properly in a React functional component:

Fig : Preview of the output that you will get on running this code from your IDE.

Code

In this solution we're using React library.

How to use useRef hook properly in react Functional Component?

JavaScriptLines of Code : 44License : CC BY-SA 4.0

const Navbar = () => {
  const navbar = useRef(null);
  useEffect(()=>{
    window.addEventListener("scroll", () => {
      if(navbar.current!==null){
        if (window.scrollY > navbar.current.offsetHeight + 550) {
          navbar.current.classList.add("active");
        } else {
          navbar.current.classList.remove("active");
        }
      }
    });
  },[]);

  return (
    <Fragment>
      <nav id="navbar" className="nav" ref={navbar}>
        <div className="container">
          <h1 className="logo">
            <a href="/index.html"></a>My Website
          </h1>
          <ul>
            <li>
              <a href="#" className="current">
                Home
              </a>
            </li>
            <li>
              <a href="#">About</a>
            </li>
            <li>
              <a href="#">Services</a>
            </li>
            <li>
              <a href="#">Contact</a>
            </li>
          </ul>
        </div>
      </nav>
      {/* other elements */}
    </Fragment>
  );
};

Instructions

Follow the steps carefully to get the output easily.

Install the Node.js and React on your IDE(preferable Visual Studio Code).
Create React Application using npx create-react-app foldername.
cd foldername.
Open the folder in IDE.
Copy the code using "copy" button above and paste it in app.js file(remove the earlier code from app.js).
Import react, useRef, useEffect and Fragment in app.js file.
Add export default statement at end of the code(like 'export default Navbar;').
Open the terminal from IDE.
npm start to run the file.

I hope you found this useful. I have added the link to dependent libraries, version information in the following sections.

I found this code snippet by searching for 'how to use useRef hook properly in react functional component' in kandi. You can try any such use case!

Environment Tested

I tested this solution in the following versions. Be mindful of changes when working with other versions.

The solution is created in Visual Studio Code 1.73.1.
The solution is tested on node v18.12.1 and npm v8.19.2.
React version-18.2.0.

Using this solution, we are able to use useRef hook properly in react functional components with simple steps. This process also facilities an easy way to use, hassle-free method to create a hands-on working version of code which would help us to use useRef hook properly in react functional components.