The Problem with useEffect
- Many developers often reach for useEffect as their first solution for DOM manipulation
- Using useEffect for DOM operations can lead to unnecessary re-renders and complexity
Callback Refs as a Better Alternative
- React provides callback refs as a more direct way to interact with DOM elements
- Callback refs are functions that React calls when an element is mounted or unmounted
Benefits of Callback Refs
- More Direct: They provide immediate access to DOM elements when they're mounted
- Better Performance: No need for extra render cycles
- Cleaner Code: Less code and fewer dependencies to manage
Example Use Cases
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Focusing elements
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Setting up third-party libraries
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Measuring DOM elements
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Animation initialization