React Stateful Components without classes

user_2991739 0
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In React, we can write components as pure functions. However, the problem with this is that you can't use it as stateful components because of the lack of lifecycle hooks and state. So, I wonder if is there any way to create stateful components without using classes.

Something that I found is the createClass helper. But, React has moved this helper into their own package in the release 15.5.0, link. Also, they recommend that you migrate them to JavaScript classes because classes are now the preferred way to create components in React. Therefore, I don't think that using this helper could be a good idea.

On the other hand, Facebook recommends the use of High Order Components (HOCs) which is an advanced technique in React for reusing component logic. HOCs are not part of the React API, per se. They are a pattern that emerges from React's compositional nature. But, I couldn't find a way to create common stateful components without classes.

Has anyone gone through this? Is there any way to use React as a some purely functional solution?

reactjs functional-programming javascript
4 Answers

React supports this since version 16.8. From the documentation:

Hooks are a new addition in React 16.8. They let you use state and other React features without writing a class.

A simple example:

import { useState } from 'react';

function Example() {
  // Declare a new state variable, which we'll call "count"
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>You clicked {count} times</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
        Click me
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

For an example of how to use lifecycles, check out useEffect

user_48065870

Maybe react-instance can become handy. Take a look at examples below.

Save state in local variable:

import React from "react"
import instance from "react-instance"

const App = instance(({ forceUpdate }) => {
  let time = 0

  const timer = setInterval(() => {
    time++
    forceUpdate()
  }, 100)

  return {
    render() {
      return time
    },
    unmount() {
      clearInterval(timer)
    },
  }
})

Save state in component state:

import React from "react"
import instance from "react-instance"

const App = instance(instance => {
  instance.state = { time: 0 }

  const timer = setInterval(() => {
    instance.setState({ time: instance.state.time + 1 })
  }, 100)

  return {
    render() {
      return instance.state.time
    },
    unmount() {
      clearInterval(timer)
    },
  }
})
user_37484980

I tried to create a simple stateful component named Comp without the usage of es6 classes.

Here is the code

Basically I'm linking the prototype of the Comp function (our stateful component) to the prototype object of React.Component and I pass down to it Comp's props to initialize it properly. After that you can use every function of the React.Component object on the Comp.prototype. I used some just an example. I don't know if this is the best way in the "most javascript" way to use react

user_47038580
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