Ref as a Prop

In React, we often update the UI declaratively using state and props. But sometimes we need direct access to a DOM element—like focusing an input, measuring its size, or starting an animation. That’s where ref comes in.

What is ref?

A ref (short for “reference”) gives us a direct line to a DOM node or a component instance. It’s like telling React:

“Hey, can I get the actual DOM element so I can do something with it?”

This makes it possible to interact with the DOM directly, without going through React’s state-driven rendering.

• Line 4: Creates a new ref using useRef().

• Lines 6–8: Uses useEffect to call focus() on the input when the component mounts.

• Line 10: Attaches the ref to the <input> element, giving us direct access to it.

What are forwardRef and useImperativeHandle?

When we want to pass a ref from a parent component into a child component, function components by default don’t accept the ref prop. To make this possible, React provides a utility called forwardRef. ...