Frequently Asked Questions
Do Hooks cover all use cases for classes?
Our goal is for Hooks to cover all use cases for classes as soon as possible. There are no Hook equivalents to the uncommon getSnapshotBeforeUpdate, getDerivedStateFromError and componentDidCatch lifecycles yet, but we plan to add them soon.
Do I need to rewrite all my class components?
No. There are no plans to remove classes from React — we all need to keep shipping products and can’t afford rewrites. We recommend trying Hooks in new code.
Can I make a ref to a function component?
While you shouldn’t need this often, you may expose some imperative methods to a parent component with the useImperativeHandle Hook.
How can I measure a DOM node?
One rudimentary way to measure the position or size of a DOM node is to use a callback ref. React will call that callback whenever the ref gets attached to a different node.
Can I skip an effect on updates?
Yes. See conditionally firing an effect. Note that forgetting to handle updates often introduces bugs, which is why this isn’t the default behavior.
