Learn useRef in 11 Minutes 

If anyone is still confused about the last example. Here is a simple explanation. Just keep three things in mind. 1. useState() causes re-render. 2. useRef() DOESN'T cause re-render. 3. useEffect() runs AFTER render. So the flow goes like this. name = "" prevName = "" -> Lets say you put "A" in the text field , so setName() runs. Changes the value of name = "A" to this. Component renders. -> Then useEffect is run where you set prevName to name. prevName is the same as name which is "A" but here comes the 2nd point i wrote. useRef() DOESN'T cause re-render. -> So when you changed the name , component got rendered and useEffect caused the prevName to change. But the thing is that component has already been rendered with whatever value prevName HAD before setName() got called. prevName is not STORING the previous value of name. It is only DISPLAYING the previous value of name. Hope this helps.

I rarely use to comment on videos, but i think this video deserves an specific acknowledgment. It was an excellent explanation about useRef, and the way that you showed the difference between it and states is super important. I hope you keep helping us, amateur web developers, to keep improving. Hope you have a lovely weekend ❤

I hope this comment will help someone who can't get a grip on it like I couldn't for some time... When you are trying to understand logic of these processes explained in the video, just keep in mind one important thing - useEffect() only runs AFTER your component is rendered. Like in the last example where we trying to get previous value of our name, I would say that prevValue.current is not actually storing the value of our previous name, it displays it as component renders - then useEffect runs, prevValue.current now storing value of current name, but because useRef doesn't make component to re-render, it "keeps that in mind", but doesn't display it till the next time component is rendered. Oh gosh.. I was hoping I'll put it simple. I hope it makes sense. It took me while to figure out logic and I feel need to share it with people.

I might purchase your course despite already knowing react. great vids bro.

for people confused of what is happening in the last use case of useref, useEffect by definition runs after the things gets rendered. so he is basically printing the value of the useState before assigning it in the useEffect

Im using most of things you teach on daily basis but I am still watching your videos and in many cases Im finding gems that I never even thought about. Good job mate, keep doing it, its good content.

What I truly love about your videos are: They are really crisp and cover the crux of the topic magically in a very small amount of time! That takes great skill, keep it up!

I struggled a little bit trying to understand Ref in React and I constantly found a bunch of explanations with examples but no other like this video. It made me understand everything. Thank you so much Kyle, shout out to you for explaining Ref very simple and concise.

I don't get time to learn by myself because of busy work schedule but through your quick and easy videos like this one I am able to....thanks! Keep up the good work!

Finally understood Refs properly.. You are a saviour❤️

I never comment on videos but this explanation was so spot on - it helped me so much converting a tutorial that was using dom selectors into react-syntax. So thanks a lot :)))

That was super useful bro. I always felt this concept was too complex and always avoided it. Now, I have a decent clartity within 10 mins. Thanks a lot

Mate I watched so many videos and read so many articles, but I never saw anything like yours! Short and very well explained. That's what I needed! Thanks!!!

Hey Kyle, I'm watching some paid React course, but when something is unclear, I open RU-vid and specifically look for your videos - I find them super useful, you can explain difficult concepts in a clear and relaxed way. I can see how every aspect of your videos (intro, speech, explanation, examples) are thoroughly thought out. Thx a lot for all of your effort!

As with useMemo I thank you for thining down the difficult concepts of React. Greate examples! I can't wait to see some more hooks simplified.

bro i have been following your tutorial and none of them have failed to amaze me, your explaination is so onpoint and simple.

not gonna lie, i went through the useRef from one of the react books today, and i didnt understand what it was, this video somewhat made it brighter for me, but not entirely. Gotta rewatch it in the morning! Keep it up

These vids are gold!!! thank you for helping this aspiring dev understand things that some seem to just gloss over or explain horribly.

Straight forward, Perfectly explained with no bs, thanks a lot!

By far the best explanation of the useRefs hook I've seen. Well done.

GOD BLESS YOU! I have a React interview tomorrow and feel very confident after watching your useMemo, useCallback and useRef videos!

Great video. Your videos make the topics so easy to understand, thanks for that. I know enough react to get myself into trouble so looking to purchase your course to get some extra depth on the topics.

Really had a great experience of knowing all the react hooks use cases. You did a very good job. Kudos, man!!!

Thank you, you always give new knowledge. In 10 minutes you clear the concepts of 1 hour. Thank you so much for saving us a lot of time.

Every time I need to learn something new about JavaScript, I look for your videos. You explain everything so clear it couldn't be better

Thank you so much bro, I used to be confused about refs most times even the react docs didn't make it as clear as this video. Thanks a lot

Awesome explanation dude, I hardly comment on tech tuts, you are just so eloquent and precise. Keep up the good work!

Your videos are always such great content and really like how you make it concise. Awesome job man!

this playlist is very helpful: clearly explained, yet complete and concise. thanks.

after searching for about 5 hours this video finally answered all my questions. I can't thank you enough buddy. I wish you the best of bests.

Your content really breaks these down in a useful way. Thanks so much, youve saved me a lot of time.

Wow, thanks man, I'm going to re-watch this playlist every week or so for some time.

The quality of your presentation is appreciated. Thank you for the videos. May Allah reward you for your efforts.

Dude you explain such topics so good with easy examples and simple usecase that before even going anywhere else to understand some concept i made it a habit to go through your videos first. Thanks for uploading

Great video. Thank you for showing the different use cases. I had no idea that it is not in included in the lifecycles and persists data.

Best 10 minutes I've spent today.

YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!!!! Been searching for how to reference a DOM node in React and here you are showing me what I've been looking for the WHOLE DAMN DAY. THNAK YOU!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Thank you for the concise and easy to understand explainer. Love this and appreciate your work.

I love you, Kyle! You’ve made my React Day with this video. 🙏🏼 thank you!

Little shortcut. Instead of doing const something = useRef(), you can use object destructoring and set it to const {current: something} = useRef(). This allows you to access your ref without needing .current.

Clear comparison with useState and nice explanation of rendering lifecycle. Thank you!

your content is fabulous and most useful for working professionals

Clear cut explanation ... Thanks kyle.. You are amazing person.

Excellent tutorial on refs! Just what I needed.

thank you so much. i spend two hours read the doc and it still confuse me, but with your explanation, it makes me understand the way to use this hooks. 😲😲

I was googling for the actual use case of useRef and after long time i got satisfied watching your video ... You told exactly what i wanted to know.... A lot of tutorial had the same caption but not worth satisfying. And the most appreciable is that you only took few minutes..

I was wondering about how to grab elements in react and this golden video popped up so thank you so much

Wow! what a straightforwad amazing explanation to useRef. I was tired understanding it from lot of videos and docuementation, but understood only because of you. thank you sir

thank you! think this hook really shed light on my mini project. I can save the previous dom state and render it back on the page now

Thank you for all the amazing videos. Always very accessible and to the point.

Magnificent explanation. Thank you!

After watching this I used it in one of our Video player component and its just awesome. Thanks a lot for this video

Very high quality content.After watching many useRef videos ,i only understood from your video.

It's always great to watch your video, Even if I know some topic and watch your videos, there is always something new that I get to know. Keep doing the good work brother.

Web Dev Simplified is so awesome - I agree -one must show gratitude - great work!

Great video. Forward ref is another good one since we build components and share those.

Finally an amazing explainer on useRef. Thanks!

Really nice video! Thank you for (purposely) making those errors, they really helped me understand things.

Thanks very much for your videos. all the hooks you explained really makes sense to me now so thanks Mann

I honestly never thought of using useRef for anything other than DOM elements. This is brilliant.

Great stuff, sir. Never thought about Ref that way.

thanks i look forward to my project finishing and being able to say your videos were abig part of it

I had a situation where I had to read qr codes, but the qr code component triggered and event multiple times when the camera was reading the qr code because of motion and low delay tim. I couldn't increase the delay time, because it would take too long to scan many qr codes and useRef hook helped me to solve my issue. Thanks Kyle for the great video.

I really like the calm voice without super hyped energy,coz that's what i need for an educational video

I'm pulling an all-nighter and i got my final exam on React in a couple of hours. Thanks for the video, so greatly explained

No words, Just Thank you brother

Massive respect to you thanks for these hooks tutorials. I am hooked no pun intended. Thank you.

many thanks for the very clear and concise explanation! I'm not sure how you managed to do it as fluently, in one clip. ( hope you didn't need to do too many retakes ;) many thanks in any event!

Thank you for this beautiful explanation.

Your explanations are really great!

Man!! this is the most informative and well explained.

Another great videos that I missed. Thank you !

Everything clear! Thanks a lot!

Great video. Very clearly explained. Thank you!

You really simplified my life. Thank you!

Great explanation and warning. Thanks.

You solved the problem for which I sat for hours. Thank you very much.

Your content is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for putting out this helpful Information

Excellent series of videos..bravo!

This guy deserves a like. Impressive mate. Thank you.

I somehow stumbled upon this video... Amazing Content.!! just wow!!. If you wanna learn refs then this is the ultimate source.

Beautifully explained!!

You really explained it in an easy way mate. Could you also make a video on React-router?

perfect explanation, so i dont need any more videos about topic. Its high level, thank you Kyle ;)

So happy to see this Channel almost reaching 1MI subscribers.

it is really surprising how good you are at explanations

Brilliant explanation, thank you very much!

The. Best. Explanation. Of. useRef. On. The. Internet!

I think you have the best videos for react hooks on RU-vid

You blow my mind best video ever! keep the great job

Best explanation for useRef. Keep the goo work brother !

Great tutorial! As usual, by the way. Thanks a lot!

Great explanation, thanks!

I finally understand "useRef" thank u 😍😍✌️✌️

Crystal clear. Good job.

Extremely useful video!!! Thank you so much, Kyle!!!

As always liking the video before actually watching it because i know the explanation is going to be amazing anyway! thanks Bro!!

Amazing. Thank you so much, Kyle!

thank you for your amazing explanation and useful real cases study !

Thanks for the great explanation.