Current property
A ref’s current property is a mutable property that stores the value currently referenced or retained by the ref.
React Hooks in Action: With Suspense and Concurrent Mode
A ref current property is the mutable property on a React ref object that contains its current referenced value or DOM element.
- How it is used
- Uses mutable storage for timers and DOM references when changing a value should not update the UI.
- How deep it goes
- Explains initialization, object identity across renders, assignment, and the absence of re-renders.
- Examples
- Demonstrates stored timer IDs, Presentation Mode, element focus, and uncontrolled text-box values.
- What you can do after
- Apply useRef to persist non-rendering values and access referenced DOM elements directly.
Read how React Hooks in Action: With Suspense and Concurrent Mode explains current property →
React Quickly, Second Edition
The current property is the mutable property on a useRef return object that stores its current referenced or retained value.
- How it is used
- Stores internal mutable values that components need to retain without updating rendered output.
- How deep it goes
- Explains reading and assignment through .current, contrasting reference updates with state updates and showing DOM references.
- Examples
- Uses a double-click counter, a retained click timestamp, and an autofocus input reference.
- What you can do after
- Apply via React's useRef hook to retain values or access DOM elements without causing re-renders.
Read how React Quickly, Second Edition explains current property →
Related concepts
- useRefused by · useRef is a React Hook that returns a persistent mutable object whose current property can hold a value across renders without causing re-rendering when changed.
- refpart of · A ref is a mechanism for retaining access to a rendered element, component, or value outside ordinary rendering data flow.
These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.