Tips for selecting a specific input field in a ReactJS component with multiple inputs

Question

Tips for selecting a specific input field in a ReactJS component with multiple inputs

I am currently developing a ReactJS application where I have implemented a component responsible for generating an HTML table. Within this component, I utilize Map to create rows using a child component. These rows contain multiple input fields that users can interact with.

One particular functionality I am trying to implement involves triggering a modal window in the parent component when editing an input field under certain conditions. The modal provides the user with three buttons to choose from. Upon clicking on a specific button in the modal, I aim to return the focus back to the original input field being edited by the user.

If anyone has any suggestions or tips on how to achieve this desired behavior, I would greatly appreciate it.

In my research, I explored using refs; however, most examples I came across focused on components with a single input field. Given that the modal is activated from a parent component, I am struggling to comprehend how I can effectively utilize or obtain the ref from the child component.

Any assistance or guidance on this matter would be highly valued.

javascript reactjs focus

Answer 1

Answer №1

My main goal is to bring the user's focus back to the specific input field they were working on.

When dealing with multiple input fields and a need to focus on one in particular, you must utilize several refs--12 refs in this scenario--.

To begin, set up your ref as shown below:
```
const inputRef = useRef([]);
```
You will then assign each input node to the ref array. If you are generating input fields dynamically through a loop, the process looks like this:
```
<input ref={el => inputRef.current[i] = el} />
```
Next, create a variable to keep track of the index of the currently edited input.
Finally, use the index stored in the variable for the last edited input field to refocus it using the following code:
```
inputRef.current[i].focus()
```

If you are using class components:

In your constructor, define an array like so:
```
this.myRefs = []
```

Assign HTML nodes by doing the following:

<input ref={el => this.myRefs[i] = el} />

This step remains unchanged.
Now, you can shift focus to a specific input element using the code snippet below:
```
this.myRefs[i].focus()
```

Answer 2

My main goal is to bring the user's focus back to the specific input field they were working on.

When dealing with multiple input fields and a need to focus on one in particular, you must utilize several refs--12 refs in this scenario--.

To begin, set up your ref as shown below:
```
const inputRef = useRef([]);
```
You will then assign each input node to the ref array. If you are generating input fields dynamically through a loop, the process looks like this:
```
<input ref={el => inputRef.current[i] = el} />
```
Next, create a variable to keep track of the index of the currently edited input.
Finally, use the index stored in the variable for the last edited input field to refocus it using the following code:
```
inputRef.current[i].focus()
```

If you are using class components:

In your constructor, define an array like so:
```
this.myRefs = []
```

Assign HTML nodes by doing the following:

<input ref={el => this.myRefs[i] = el} />

This step remains unchanged.
Now, you can shift focus to a specific input element using the code snippet below:
```
this.myRefs[i].focus()
```

Answer 3

Answer №2

After consulting @user9408899's response and doing some research, I crafted a solution based on the relevant parts of the code.

Main Component

Added an inputRefToFocus property to hold the reference we want to focus on.
Implemented setInputRefToFocus(ref) to update the state with the ref, and passed it along with inputRefToFocus to the child component.

    export class Parent extends React.Component {
      constructor(props) {
        super(props);
        this.state = {
          ...
          // holds the ref for the input field to be focused
          // when modal window appears, depending on button clicked,
          // we want to focus on the edited field
          inputRefToFocus: null
        };

        this.setInputRefToFocus = this.setInputRefToFocus.bind(this);
      }

      setInputRefToFocus(ref) {
        this.setState({ inputRefToFocus: ref });
      }

      render() {
        { rows.map(elem => (
          <PivotTableRow
            setInputRefToFocus={this.setInputRefToFocus}
            inputRefToFocus={this.state.inputRefToFocus}
          />
        )) }
      }
    }

Child Component

Each input element is added to the array of refs as they are created.
When an input is focused, its ref is set in the parent component's inputRefToFocus.
Focusing is done in componentDidUpdate()

export class Child extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = {
      ...
    };

    this.inputRef = [];

  }

  componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
    if (this.props !== prevProps) {
      if (this.inputRef[this.props.inputRefToFocus] !== undefined) {
        this.inputRef[this.props.inputRefToFocus].focus();
      }
    }
  }

  render() {
    return (
      // loop to create input elements
      <Input
        ref={el => { this.inputRef[dummyvalue] = el; }
        onChange={...}
        onFocus={() => this.props.setInputRefToFocus(dummyvalue)}
      /> 
    );
  }
}

I believe there is room for improvement in the code, considering it was my initial attempt at solving the issue.

Answer 4

After consulting @user9408899's response and doing some research, I crafted a solution based on the relevant parts of the code.

Main Component

Added an inputRefToFocus property to hold the reference we want to focus on.
Implemented setInputRefToFocus(ref) to update the state with the ref, and passed it along with inputRefToFocus to the child component.

    export class Parent extends React.Component {
      constructor(props) {
        super(props);
        this.state = {
          ...
          // holds the ref for the input field to be focused
          // when modal window appears, depending on button clicked,
          // we want to focus on the edited field
          inputRefToFocus: null
        };

        this.setInputRefToFocus = this.setInputRefToFocus.bind(this);
      }

      setInputRefToFocus(ref) {
        this.setState({ inputRefToFocus: ref });
      }

      render() {
        { rows.map(elem => (
          <PivotTableRow
            setInputRefToFocus={this.setInputRefToFocus}
            inputRefToFocus={this.state.inputRefToFocus}
          />
        )) }
      }
    }

Child Component

Each input element is added to the array of refs as they are created.
When an input is focused, its ref is set in the parent component's inputRefToFocus.
Focusing is done in componentDidUpdate()

export class Child extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = {
      ...
    };

    this.inputRef = [];

  }

  componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
    if (this.props !== prevProps) {
      if (this.inputRef[this.props.inputRefToFocus] !== undefined) {
        this.inputRef[this.props.inputRefToFocus].focus();
      }
    }
  }

  render() {
    return (
      // loop to create input elements
      <Input
        ref={el => { this.inputRef[dummyvalue] = el; }
        onChange={...}
        onFocus={() => this.props.setInputRefToFocus(dummyvalue)}
      /> 
    );
  }
}

I believe there is room for improvement in the code, considering it was my initial attempt at solving the issue.

Tips for selecting a specific input field in a ReactJS component with multiple inputs

Answer №1

Answer №2

Main Component

Child Component

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