Refs

In React, refs (short for “references”) are a feature that allows developers to directly access and interact with DOM elements or React component instances created during the render phase. While React emphasizes declarative programming, refs offer an imperative escape hatch for specific cases where direct access is necessary.

Refs are created using the useRef() hook in functional components or React.createRef() in class components. They persist across re-renders and do not trigger re-renders themselves. This makes them ideal for tasks like:

• Managing focus (e.g., focusing an input field on load)

• Triggering animations

• Reading layout or scroll position

• Integrating with third-party libraries that rely on direct DOM manipulation

For example:

const inputRef = useRef(null);
useEffect(() => {
  inputRef.current.focus();
}, []);

In this snippet, inputRef.current points to the actual DOM node of the input field. When the component mounts, the useEffect hook sets focus on the input.

It’s important to use refs sparingly—overusing them can lead to code that's harder to debug and less predictable. However, when used appropriately, refs are a powerful tool for bridging the gap between React's declarative model and imperative needs.

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