Is useEffect necessary to update the ref? (genuine question)

[donavon]

Is useEffect necessary to update the ref? (genuine question)

[zhouzi]

in second sample if props.handler ever changes your savedHandler.current will not ever get updated

The ref is updated every time the hook is called, regardless of whether props.handler changed or not. So compared to the example with useEffect, it's updated even more often. It shouldn't be an issue since updating a ref doesn't trigger a rerender.

I would not trust the "hold a mutable value", everything should be immutable in React

I agree that mutability is a nightmare that should be avoided at all cost. But that's how React refs work: they hold a mutable value. I think it's ok to use them responsibly.

I'll close this issue, it was really just me being curious 😉

[dviry]

my 2 cents: in second sample if props.handler ever changes your savedHandler.current will not ever get updated... I would not trust the "hold a mutable value", everything should be immutable in React ;)