Solved: useref react

Here’s how you can structure your requested article about “useref” react:

React is a universally recognized library for creating user interfaces, especially single-page applications. It is a lightweight and flexible library designed to enhance the user experience. Web development has reached new horizons with features like Hooks brought by React. One such essential feature, or you can consider it, a hook provided by React is useRef. useRef is generally used to access the DOM nodes or React elements.

In React, the function component’s renders are not predictable. Hence, if we intend to capture a value and want it to persist over time without causing any re-renders, we can use useRef Hook.

The major difference between useRef and other hooks in React is – it does not trigger re-render. Instead, it allows the stored value to persist across re-renders.

Now, let’s have an in-depth look at useRef Hook, its usage, and how effectively we can solve problems using it.

Understanding useRef Hook in React

In simple terms, useRef is a built-in React Hook that allows you to keep track of a mutable value that can persist beyond the typical rendering lifecycle, comparable to instance variables in a class component in React.

import React, { useRef } from 'react';

function App() {
  const ourRef = useRef(null);
  
  return (<div>Do something...</div>);
}

The useRef Hook is initiated with a null argument, and it returns an object that remains constant for the entire lifetime of the component.

Practical Implementation of useRef

Let’s try to implement useRef in a real-life scenario. Consider a scenario where you have to bring into focus a text input as soon as your component mounts on the DOM.

The typical approach would require understanding Lifecycle Methods, such as componentDidMount etc., whereas useRef Hook makes the task quite straightforward.

import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';

function TextInputWithFocusButton() {
  const inputEl = useRef(null);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    if(inputEl !== null) {
      inputEl.current.focus();
    }
  }, []);
  
  return (
    <>
      <input ref={inputEl} type="text" />
      <button 
          onClick={() => inputEl.current && inputEl.current.focus()}>
          Focus the input
      </button>
    </>
  );
}

Here, we have used the useRef Hook to refer to our input element. The useEffect Hook is used to bring the input into focus as soon as the component mounts on the DOM.

Using useRef with Other Libraries

It is not unusual to find scenarios where useRef will be used with other libraries and functions. For instance, the combination of useRef with useEffect is widely used in cases where one needs to create an instance of a third-party library.

The useRef hook in React brings flexibility and efficiency, and understanding its proper usage can be a game-changer for any React developer.

Please remember, the above code and implementation details are in TypeScript format, which is a statically typed superset of JavaScript that adds optional types to the language. TypeScript not only modernizes JavaScript but also provides better tooling and enable highly productive programming patterns.


Let’s now shift gears and talk about fashion trends and styles. Fashion, like programming, is ever-changing, always evolving. The history of fashion is also as colorful and dynamic, with each era showcasing different styles and trends – from the Victorian age opulence to the psychedelic looks of the 70s, to the booming street-style fashion of today.

  • The Roaring 20s gave birth to the ‘flapper’ style, characterized by bobbed hair, loose, knee-length dresses, and lots of fringes and sequins.
  • In the 50s, ‘The New Look’ by Christian Dior – with cinched waists and full skirts – became the epitome of elegance.
  • The 60s was all about freedom, youth, and fun. We saw bold prints, neon colors, miniskirts, and go-go boots.
  • The 90s saw a surge in minimalism, grunge and street style, with oversized flannels, crop tops, and baggy jeans being the staple.

While the past shapes the fashion world, it is innovation and creativity that pave the way forward. Just like in programming, it’s essential to understand and respect the past but also to keep looking forward for the next big trend.

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