Phase 8 · React

Topics

Refs

Part of the Frontend Developer Roadmap.

Summary

`useRef` gives you a mutable value that persists across renders without causing re-renders — commonly used to directly access a DOM element.

How to Learn This

  • 1Use a ref to focus an input automatically when a component mounts.
  • 2Store a previous value across renders using a ref, without triggering a re-render.
  • 3Learn `forwardRef` for passing a ref through to a child component.
InsideEdge

Stuck on this topic? Ask an Insider

Get 1:1 guidance from people who've walked this exact path — free on the InsideEdge app.

Download
InsideEdge