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ReactJS - prevState in the new useState React hook?

I really like the new React hooks and I'm using them frequently for a project I'm working on. I'm coming across a situation where I want to use the prevState in the useState hook, but I'm not really certain on how to do this.

I've tried something like this, but it fails to compile.

const [ someState, setSomeState ] = useState( new Map() )
setSomeState( prevState.someState.set( key, value ) )

(by the way, this is to map an array of checkboxes to keep track of the ones that are check marked)

I'm trying to follow this example here, but without using the setState function.

Thanks for the help!

over 4 years ago · Santiago Trujillo
3 answers
Answer question

0

For objects you can use the spread operator to use prevState within your setState call.

const [object, setObject] = useState({
  firstKey: '',
  secondKey: '',
});

setObject((prevState) => ({
  ...prevState,
  secondKey: 'value',
}));

// object = {
//   firstKey: '',
//   secondKey: 'value',
// }

The snippet below show an example of using prevState for setting the state of an object.

const {useState} = React;

const Example = ({title}) => {
  const initialState = {
    firstKey: 'empty',
    secondKey: 'empty',
    thirdKey: 'not empty',
  }
  const [object, setObject] = useState(initialState);
  
  const withPrevState = () => {
    setObject((prevState) => ({
      ...prevState,
      secondKey: 'not empty',
    }));
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <h5>Updates Second key to 'not empty'</h5>
      <p>First key: {object.firstKey}</p>
      <p>Second key: {object.secondKey}</p>
      <p>Third key: {object.thirdKey}</p>
      <button onClick={withPrevState}>
        Update with prevState
      </button>
      <button onClick={() => {setObject({secondKey: 'not empty'})}}>
        Update without prevState
      </button>
      <button onClick={() => {setObject(initialState)}}>
        Reset
      </button>
    </div>
  );
};

// Render it
ReactDOM.render(
  <Example />,
  document.getElementById("react")
);
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/react/16.8.4/umd/react.production.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/react-dom/16.8.4/umd/react-dom.production.min.js"></script>
<div id="react"></div>

over 4 years ago · Santiago Trujillo Report

0

In order to use Maps, you'll need to clone it before manipulating the values. Otherwise, it's mutating the original Map and React doesn't handle mutatable state.

const handleChange = useCallback(({ target: { name, checked } }) => {
  setCheckbox(prevState => {
    return new Map(prevState).set(name, checked);
  });
}, []);

Updated Working Example:

Edit Multi Checkbox Handler

over 4 years ago · Santiago Trujillo Report

0

state updater from useState provides a callback pattern which returns you the previous state which you can use to update the current state

const [ someState, setSomeState ] = useState( new Map() )
setSomeState(prevState => prevState.set( key, value ) )
over 4 years ago · Santiago Trujillo Report
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