Ref.current is null because the ref is not set till after the function returns and the content is rendered. The useEffect hook fires every time the value of contents of the array passed to it changes.

useRef returns a ref object with a single current property initially set to the initial value you provided. On the next renders, useRef will return the same object. You can change its current property to store information and read it later.

Apr 7, 2024 · A React ref most commonly returns undefined or null when we try to access its current property before its corresponding DOM element is rendered. To get around this, access the ref in the useEffect hook or when an event is triggered.

Aug 5, 2018 · React.createRef () is asynchronous so if you try to access the ref in componentDidMount, it will return null and later return the properties of the component in which you are referencing. if (this.viewShot && this.viewShot.current) { this.viewShot.current.capture().then((uri) => { console.log('do something with ', uri); });

Dec 27, 2019 · Ref forwarding is a technique for automatically passing a ref through a component to one of its children. This is typically not necessary for most components in the application. Let's say you have in the parent component as the following: const childDivRef = useRef(null); return <> <ChildComponent ref={childDivRef} /> </>

Oct 14, 2024 · forwardRef is a higher-order function that allows you to pass a ref from a parent component to a child component, which then forwards that ref to a DOM node or another component. This enables parent components to access or manipulate a …

Sep 1, 2024 · Refs in React are a powerful feature that don’t always get the spotlight they deserve. We all know the famous hooks like useState and useEffect but useRef is more reserved. In this article, we’ll...

Mar 9, 2021 · You could try using ref as a callback instead: const onRef = (node) => { if (node) pageContRef.current = node; saveScrollPos(node.scrollTop) } <div ref={onRef}... />

createRef always returns a different object. It’s equivalent to writing { current: null } yourself. In a function component, you probably want useRef instead which always returns the same object.

How to add a ref to your component; How to update a ref’s value; How refs are different from state; How to use refs safely