Understanding useRef in React

useRef is a React hook that allows you to persist values across renders without causing a component to re-render. It is commonly used for accessing and manipulating DOM elements, storing mutable values, and preserving previous values in functional components.

Key Uses of useRef

1. Accessing the DOM – useRef can be used to reference an element and interact with it directly, such as focusing an input field or modifying an element’s properties.

2. Storing Mutable Values – Unlike state, a useRef value persists between renders but does not cause re-renders when updated. This makes it useful for keeping track of values like timers, intervals, or previous states.

3. Tracking Previous Values – It helps in storing the previous value of a prop or state variable, which can be useful for comparison or debugging purposes.

Key Takeaways

• useRef does not trigger re-renders when its value changes.

• It is commonly used for working with the DOM but also serves other purposes.

• Useful for storing values that should persist across renders without affecting the component lifecycle.

• Unlike useState, updating a useRef value does not cause a component to re-render.

While useRef is a simple and powerful tool, it should be used carefully to avoid unnecessary direct DOM manipulations, which go against React’s declarative nature.