Phase 8 · React
TopicsRefs
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.
More topics in React
Stuck on this topic? Ask an Insider
Get 1:1 guidance from people who've walked this exact path — free on the InsideEdge app.