Technologies:
javascript
reactjs
react-native
Tolerim
a day ago
What is the optimal approach for sending data to a parent component in React that is not necessary for rendering?
As a React Native developer, I am working on a mobile app which requires data input. I have implemented a component that displays various text inputs and checkboxes, with each being a child component for better code organization. To handle the checkbox for data type selection, I initially used useState to lift the state up to the parent component. However, this led to excessive re-renders of the parent component each time the checkbox selection changed, which was not ideal. To solve this, I switched to using useRef instead, which only re-renders the child component, and I plan to apply this solution to all input fields. However, I have read that passing state up in React is unidirectional and should not be done. I am unsure whether I should stick to useRef or find another solution. Can you advise on the best approach?
Answers(1)
Tolerim
a day ago
Verified Answer
It is generally recommended to keep state in React components unidirectional, meaning that it should only be passed down from parent components to their children as props. However, in some cases like the one described here, it may make sense to use useRef to avoid unnecessary re-renders of the parent component.
While lifting state up as shown in the first example will cause the parent component to re-render every time the checkbox selection is changed, it is a valid solution and is still frequently used in React applications.
Using useRef as shown in the second example does avoid unnecessary re-renders of the parent component, but it does introduce the need to manage state in multiple parts of the component tree. Additionally, since useRef does not trigger re-renders when its value changes, it may make the code harder to reason about.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to lift state up or use useRef depends on the specific requirements of your app and how you prioritize performance vs. simplicity.