How to Create A Controlled Component In React?

17 minutes read

A controlled component in React is a form element whose value is controlled by the state of the component. By creating controlled components, you can have more control over form inputs and their behavior.


To create a controlled component in React, you need to follow the following steps:

  1. Define the initial state: Start by defining a state variable in your component's constructor that will hold the value of your form input.
  2. Handle input changes: Attach an event listener (usually onChange) to the form input, which will trigger a function to handle the input value change. In this function, update the state variable with the new value, using setState.
  3. Bind the value to the state variable: Bind the value prop of the form input element to the state variable created in the initial step. This way, the input field value will be controlled by the state and automatically updated whenever the state changes.
  4. Handle form submission: When the form is submitted, you can access the current value of the controlled input field through the state variable. You can then perform further actions or submit the form data to a server if needed.


By creating a controlled component, you gain more control and flexibility over form inputs. You can perform validation, conditionally enable or disable submit buttons, or dynamically change the behavior of your application based on the form inputs.

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What are the advantages of using controlled components in React?

There are several advantages of using controlled components in React:

  1. Predictability and reliability: Controlled components ensure that the state of the component is always in sync with the value in the input field. This makes it easier to predict and understand the behavior of the component, as there are no unexpected side effects.
  2. Single source of truth: The state of the input field is maintained by the parent component and passed down as props to the controlled component. This creates a single source of truth, making it easier to manage and manipulate the data.
  3. Validation and error handling: With controlled components, it becomes easier to implement validation and error handling logic. As the state is controlled by the parent component, it can apply validation rules before updating the state, ensuring that the data entered by the user is valid.
  4. Flexibility and reusability: Controlled components are more flexible and reusable. Since the state is maintained by the parent component, it can be easily shared among multiple components. This makes it easier to implement complex forms and reuse the same input logic in different parts of the application.
  5. Easier debugging: Controlled components simplify the debugging process. Since the state is always in sync with the input field value, it becomes easier to identify and fix issues related to the input field.
  6. Integration with other libraries: Controlled components play well with other libraries and tools. As the state is controlled by React, it can easily integrate with libraries like Redux, Formik, or other form management libraries. This allows for more advanced functionalities like form submission, data manipulation, and handling complex validation rules.


How to bind input values to state in controlled components in React?

To bind input values to state in controlled components in React, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a state variable in your component's constructor using the useState hook or this.state constructor.
  2. In your input element, set the value attribute to the state variable and the onChange attribute to a function that updates the state variable.
  3. Create a function that handles the onChange event and updates the state variable with the new value.


Here's an example of how you can implement this in a functional component:

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import React, { useState } from 'react';

const MyComponent = () => {
  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState('');

  const handleInputChange = (event) => {
    setInputValue(event.target.value);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input
        type="text"
        value={inputValue}
        onChange={handleInputChange}
      />
      <p>Input Value: {inputValue}</p>
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyComponent;


And here's an example of how you can do it in a class component:

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import React from 'react';

class MyComponent extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = {
      inputValue: ''
    };
  }

  handleInputChange = (event) => {
    this.setState({ inputValue: event.target.value });
  };

  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <input
          type="text"
          value={this.state.inputValue}
          onChange={this.handleInputChange}
        />
        <p>Input Value: {this.state.inputValue}</p>
      </div>
    );
  }
}

export default MyComponent;


By binding the value of the input field to the state variable and updating it with the onChange event, you can control the input state in React.


How to implement a search/filter functionality with controlled components in React?

To implement a search/filter functionality with controlled components in React, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a state variable to store the search/filter term:
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const [searchTerm, setSearchTerm] = useState('');


  1. Create an input element to accept the search term and update the state variable:
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<input type="text" value={searchTerm} onChange={(e) => setSearchTerm(e.target.value)} />


  1. Use the search term in a filter function to filter the data:
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const filteredData = data.filter((item) => item.name.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm.toLowerCase()));


Here, data is the original data array and name is the property you want to filter on. Adjust this line according to your specific data structure.

  1. Display the filtered results:
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{filteredData.map((item) => (
  // Display filtered items here
))}


Here's a complete example:

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import React, { useState } from 'react';

const SearchComponent = ({ data }) => {
  const [searchTerm, setSearchTerm] = useState('');

  const filteredData = data.filter((item) => item.name.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm.toLowerCase()));

  return (
    <div>
      <input type="text" value={searchTerm} onChange={(e) => setSearchTerm(e.target.value)} />
      {filteredData.map((item) => (
        // Display filtered items here
        <p key={item.id}>{item.name}</p>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
};

export default SearchComponent;


In this example, the SearchComponent component accepts a data prop, which should be an array of objects with a name property. The component renders an input field and displays the filtered data based on the search term.

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How to manipulate and update state in a controlled component based on user input in React?

To manipulate and update state in a controlled component based on user input in React, follow these steps:

  1. Initialize the state in the constructor of the component using the state property. For example: constructor(props) { super(props); this.state = { inputText: '', }; }
  2. Create an event handler function that updates the state based on user input. This function will be triggered whenever the user interacts with the input element. For example: handleInputChange = (event) => { this.setState({ inputText: event.target.value, }); }
  3. In the render method, use the state value and event handler function to bind the input element to the state. This creates a controlled component, where the state is the single source of truth for the input element's value. For example: render() { return ( ); }
  4. The user input will now automatically update the state whenever they type into the input element. You can then use the updated state to perform any necessary actions or re-render the component based on the input.


By following these steps, you can manipulate and update the state in a controlled component based on user input in React.


What is the significance of using the "selected" attribute in controlled components with dropdown/select inputs in React?

In React, the "selected" attribute is used to set the initial value of a dropdown/select input in a controlled component.


When working with controlled components, the value of the dropdown/select input is controlled by the state of the component. By setting the "selected" attribute to a specific value, you can initialize the input with that value.


Here's an example:

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class MyComponent extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = {
      selectedOption: 'option1' // initial value
    };
  }

  handleChange = (event) => {
    this.setState({selectedOption: event.target.value});
  }

  render() {
    return (
      <select value={this.state.selectedOption} onChange={this.handleChange}>
        <option value="option1">Option 1</option>
        <option value="option2">Option 2</option>
        <option value="option3">Option 3</option>
      </select>
    );
  }
}


In this code, the value of the select input is controlled by the selectedOption state variable. By setting value={this.state.selectedOption}, the initial value of the select input will be set to 'option1'. When the user selects a different option, the handleChange function updates the selectedOption state, keeping the input in sync with the state.


So, the "selected" attribute is significant in controlled components with dropdown/select inputs as it allows you to set an initial value and maintain control of the input value using React's state.


What are controlled inputs and uncontrolled inputs in React?

Controlled inputs and uncontrolled inputs are two ways of managing form inputs in React.


Controlled inputs: In a controlled input, the value of the input element is controlled by the React component's state. This means that the value of the input is set to a specific value and any changes to the input's value are handled by updating the state. To update the value, an event handler is typically attached to the input element's onChange event. This allows for more control over the form input and its behavior.


Example of a controlled input in React:

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class MyForm extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = {
      inputValue: ''
    };
  }

  handleChange = (e) => {
    this.setState({ inputValue: e.target.value });
  }

  render() {
    return (
      <input type="text" value={this.state.inputValue} onChange={this.handleChange} />
    );
  }
}


Uncontrolled inputs: In an uncontrolled input, the value of the input element is not controlled by the React component's state. Instead, the value of the input is directly manipulated by the Dom itself, and can be accessed via a reference to the input element. Uncontrolled inputs are useful in scenarios where you don't need to update or validate the input's value within the React component.


Example of an uncontrolled input in React:

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class MyForm extends React.Component {
  handleSubmit = (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    console.log(this.inputRef.value);
  }

  render() {
    return (
      <form onSubmit={this.handleSubmit}>
        <input type="text" ref={(input) => this.inputRef = input} />
        <button type="submit">Submit</button>
      </form>
    );
  }
}


In this example, the value of the input is not controlled by React's state but is accessed directly using a ref. When the form is submitted, the input's value is logged to the console.


How to use controlled components with dropdown/select inputs in React?

To use controlled components with dropdown/select inputs in React, you need to follow the steps below:

  1. Create a state variable to store the selected value of the dropdown. For example:
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const [selectedValue, setSelectedValue] = useState('');


  1. Add an event handler function to handle the onChange event of the dropdown. This function should update the state variable with the selected value. For example:
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const handleSelectChange = (event) => {
  setSelectedValue(event.target.value);
};


  1. Render the dropdown/select component with the value and onChange props. The value prop should be set to the state variable, and the onChange prop should be set to the event handler function. For example:
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<select value={selectedValue} onChange={handleSelectChange}>
  <option value="option1">Option 1</option>
  <option value="option2">Option 2</option>
  <option value="option3">Option 3</option>
</select>


By following these steps, you have created a controlled component for the dropdown/select input. The selected value will be stored in the state variable, and any changes to the dropdown will update the state variable and trigger a re-render of the component.

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