Develop Reference

Why does useEffect trigger in first time render even though i gave it dependency arrays? [duplicate]

With React's new Effect Hooks, I can tell React to skip applying an effect if certain values haven't changed between re-renders - Example from React's docs:
useEffect(() => {
document.title = `You clicked ${count} times`;
}, [count]); // Only re-run the effect if count changes
But the example above applies the effect upon initial render, and upon subsequent re-renders where count has changed. How can I tell React to skip the effect on the initial render?

As the guide states,
The Effect Hook, useEffect, adds the ability to perform side effects from a function component. It serves the same purpose as componentDidMount, componentDidUpdate, and componentWillUnmount in React classes, but unified into a single API.
In this example from the guide it's expected that count is 0 only on initial render:
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
So it will work as componentDidUpdate with additional check:
useEffect(() => {
if (count)
document.title = `You clicked ${count} times`;
}, [count]);
This is basically how custom hook that can be used instead of useEffect may work:
function useDidUpdateEffect(fn, inputs) {
const didMountRef = useRef(false);
useEffect(() => {
if (didMountRef.current) {
return fn();
}
didMountRef.current = true;
}, inputs);
}
Credits go to #Tholle for suggesting useRef instead of setState.

Here's a custom hook that just provides a boolean flag to indicate whether the current render is the first render (when the component was mounted). It's about the same as some of the other answers but you can use the flag in a useEffect or the render function or anywhere else in the component you want. Maybe someone can propose a better name.
import { useRef, useEffect } from 'react';
export const useIsMount = () => {
const isMountRef = useRef(true);
useEffect(() => {
isMountRef.current = false;
}, []);
return isMountRef.current;
};
You can use it like:
import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
import { useIsMount } from './useIsMount';
const MyComponent = () => {
const isMount = useIsMount();
useEffect(() => {
if (isMount) {
console.log('First Render');
} else {
console.log('Subsequent Render');
}
});
return isMount ? <p>First Render</p> : <p>Subsequent Render</p>;
};
And here's a test for it if you're interested:
import { renderHook } from '#testing-library/react-hooks';
import { useIsMount } from '../useIsMount';
describe('useIsMount', () => {
it('should be true on first render and false after', () => {
const { result, rerender } = renderHook(() => useIsMount());
expect(result.current).toEqual(true);
rerender();
expect(result.current).toEqual(false);
rerender();
expect(result.current).toEqual(false);
});
});
Our use case was to hide animated elements if the initial props indicate they should be hidden. On later renders if the props changed, we did want the elements to animate out.

I found a solution that is more simple and has no need to use another hook, but it has drawbacks.
useEffect(() => {
// skip initial render
return () => {
// do something with dependency
}
}, [dependency])
This is just an example that there are others ways of doing it if your case is very simple.
The drawback of doing this is that you can't have a cleanup effect and will only execute when the dependency array changes the second time.
This isn't recommended to use and you should use what the other answers are saying, but I only added this here so people know that there is more than one way of doing this.
Edit:
Just to make it more clear, you shouldn't use this approach to solving the problem in the question (skipping the initial render), this is only for teaching purpose that shows you can do the same thing in different ways.
If you need to skip the initial render, please use the approach on other answers.

I use a regular state variable instead of a ref.
// Initializing didMount as false
const [didMount, setDidMount] = useState(false)
// Setting didMount to true upon mounting
useEffect(() => { setDidMount(true) }, [])
// Now that we have a variable that tells us wether or not the component has
// mounted we can change the behavior of the other effect based on that
const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
useEffect(() => {
if (didMount) document.title = `You clicked ${count} times`
}, [count])
We can refactor the didMount logic as a custom hook like this.
function useDidMount() {
const [didMount, setDidMount] = useState(false)
useEffect(() => { setDidMount(true) }, [])
return didMount
}
Finally, we can use it in our component like this.
const didMount = useDidMount()
const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
useEffect(() => {
if (didMount) document.title = `You clicked ${count} times`
}, [count])
UPDATE Using useRef hook to avoid the extra rerender (Thanks to #TomEsterez for the suggestion)
This time our custom hook returns a function returning our ref's current value. U can use the ref directly too, but I like this better.
function useDidMount() {
const mountRef = useRef(false);
useEffect(() => { mountRef.current = true }, []);
return () => mountRef.current;
}
Usage
const MyComponent = () => {
const didMount = useDidMount();
useEffect(() => {
if (didMount()) // do something
else // do something else
})
return (
<div>something</div>
);
}
On a side note, I've never had to use this hook and there are probably better ways to handle this which would be more aligned with the React programming model.

Let me introduce to you react-use.
npm install react-use
Wanna run:
only after first render? -------> useUpdateEffect
only once? -------> useEffectOnce
check is it first mount? -------> useFirstMountState
Want to run effect with deep compare, shallow compare or throttle? and much more here.
Don't want to install a library? Check the code & copy. (maybe a star for the good folks there too)
Best thing is one less thing for you to maintain.

A TypeScript and CRA friendly hook, replace it with useEffect, this hook works like useEffect but won't be triggered while the first render happens.
import * as React from 'react'
export const useLazyEffect:typeof React.useEffect = (cb, dep) => {
const initializeRef = React.useRef<boolean>(false)
React.useEffect((...args) => {
if (initializeRef.current) {
cb(...args)
} else {
initializeRef.current = true
}
// eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
}, dep)
}

Here is my implementation based on Estus Flask's answer written in Typescript. It also supports cleanup callback.
import { DependencyList, EffectCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
export function useDidUpdateEffect(
effect: EffectCallback,
deps?: DependencyList
) {
// a flag to check if the component did mount (first render's passed)
// it's unrelated to the rendering process so we don't useState here
const didMountRef = useRef(false);
// effect callback runs when the dependency array changes, it also runs
// after the component mounted for the first time.
useEffect(() => {
// if so, mark the component as mounted and skip the first effect call
if (!didMountRef.current) {
didMountRef.current = true;
} else {
// subsequent useEffect callback invocations will execute the effect as normal
return effect();
}
}, deps);
}
Live Demo
The live demo below demonstrates the different between useEffect and useDidUpdateEffect hooks

I was going to comment on the currently accepted answer, but ran out of space!
Firstly, it's important to move away from thinking in terms of lifecycle events when using functional components. Think in terms of prop/state changes. I had a similar situation where I only wanted a particular useEffect function to fire when a particular prop (parentValue in my case) changes from its initial state. So, I created a ref that was based on its initial value:
const parentValueRef = useRef(parentValue);
and then included the following at the start of the useEffect fn:
if (parentValue === parentValueRef.current) return;
parentValueRef.current = parentValue;
(Basically, don't run the effect if parentValue hasn't changed. Update the ref if it has changed, ready for the next check, and continue to run the effect)
So, although other solutions suggested will solve the particular use-case you've provided, it will help in the long run to change how you think in relation to functional components.
Think of them as primarily rendering a component based on some props.
If you genuinely need some local state, then useState will provide that, but don't assume your problem will be solved by storing local state.
If you have some code that will alter your props during a render, this 'side-effect' needs to be wrapped in a useEffect, but the purpose of this is to have a clean render that isn't affected by something changing as it's rendering. The useEffect hook will be run after the render has completed and, as you've pointed out, it's run with every render - unless the second parameter is used to supply a list of props/states to identify what changed items will cause it to be run subsequent times.
Good luck on your journey to Functional Components / Hooks! Sometimes it's necessary to unlearn something to get to grips with a new way of doing things :)
This is an excellent primer: https://overreacted.io/a-complete-guide-to-useeffect/

Below solution is similar to above, just a little cleaner way i prefer.
const [isMount, setIsMount] = useState(true);
useEffect(()=>{
if(isMount){
setIsMount(false);
return;
}
//Do anything here for 2nd render onwards
}, [args])

You can use custom hook to run use effect after mount.
const useEffectAfterMount = (cb, dependencies) => {
const mounted = useRef(true);
useEffect(() => {
if (!mounted.current) {
return cb();
}
mounted.current = false;
}, dependencies); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
};
Here is the typescript version:
const useEffectAfterMount = (cb: EffectCallback, dependencies: DependencyList | undefined) => {
const mounted = useRef(true);
useEffect(() => {
if (!mounted.current) {
return cb();
}
mounted.current = false;
}, dependencies); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
};
Example:
useEffectAfterMount(() => {
document.title = `You clicked ${count} times`;
}, [count])

localStorage resets to empty on refresh in NextJS

I have a shopping cart system in my next.js app using Context.
I define my cart with useState:
const [cartItems, setCartItems] = useState([]);
Then I use useEffect to check and update the localStorage:
useEffect(() => {
if (JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("cartItems"))) {
const storedCartItems = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("cartItems"));
setCartItems([...cartItems, ...storedCartItems]);
}
}, []);
useEffect(() => {
window.localStorage.setItem("cartItems", JSON.stringify(cartItems));
}, [cartItems]);
This stores the items in localStorage fine, but when I refresh, it resets the cartItems item in localStorage to an empty array. I've seen a few answers where you get the localStorage item before setting the cart state but that throws localStorage is not defined errors in Next. How can I do this?

setCartItems sets the value of cartItems for the next render, so on the initial render it's [] during the second useEffect
You can fix this by storing a ref (which doesn't rerender on state change) for whether it's the first render or not.
import React, { useState, useRef } from "react";
// ...
// in component
const initialRender = useRef(true);
useEffect(() => {
if (JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("cartItems"))) {
const storedCartItems = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("cartItems"));
setCartItems([...cartItems, ...storedCartItems]);
}
}, []);
useEffect(() => {
if (initialRender.current) {
initialRender.current = false;
return;
}
window.localStorage.setItem("cartItems", JSON.stringify(cartItems));
}, [cartItems]);

React never updates state immediately It's an asynchronous process, for example, if you console.log(stateValue) just after the setState() method you'll get prevState value in a log. You can read more about it here.
That is exactly happening here, you have called setState method inside the first useEffect, state has not updated yet by react and we're trying to update localStorage with the latest state value(for now it's [] since react has not updated the state yet). that's why the localStorage value holds an empty array.
For your case, you can skip the first execution of 2nd useEffect as #Samathingamajig's mentioned in his answer.
PS: Thanks #Samathingamajig for pointing out the silly mistake, I don't know how missed that. LOL

thanks to jamesmosier for his answer on gitHub
The issue you are seeing is because localStorage (aka window.localStorage) is not defined on the server side. Next server renders your components, so when that happens and it tried to access localStorage it can't find it. You'll have to wait until the browser renders it in order to use localStorage.
full answer link here
EDIT
you can try this :
useEffect(() => {
if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
const storedCartItems = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("cartItems"));
if(storedCartItems !== null) {
setCartItems([...cartItems, ...storedCartItems]);
}
}
}, []);
useEffect(() => {
if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
window.localStorage.setItem("cartItems", JSON.stringify(cartItems));
}
}, [cartItems]);

useEffect causing it to call the method to get posts way too many times. I only want to get the posts when my query changes

I am trying to call the reddit API. The post titles are showing up, but I want them to rerender when my query changes. I just want to know how to call a method when a piece of my state changes(aka my query). I’m using useEffect from react to do it but that calls it whenever anything changes in the component, causing it to call the method to get posts way to many times. I only want to get the posts when my query changes.
import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import { useSelector, useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
function Results()
{
const query = useSelector(state => state.query);
const results = useSelector(state => state.results);
const dispatch = useDispatch();
let fetchResults = () =>
{
let postTitles = [];
let postSrcs = [];
fetch('https://www.reddit.com/r/' + query + '.json')
.then(response => response.json())
.then(body => {
for (let i = 0; i < body.data.children.length; ++i) {
if (body.data.children[i].data.post_hint === 'image')
{
let img_url = body.data.children[i].data.url_overridden_by_dest;
postSrcs.push(img_url);
}
let title = body.data.children[i].data.title;
postTitles.push(title);
}
dispatch({type: "QUERY_RESULTS", payload: postTitles})
}).catch((err) => {
console.log(err)
});
}
useEffect(() => {
fetchResults();
console.log("use effect triggered")
})
return (
<>
<h1>Query: {query}</h1>
{ !results
? <h1>No Results</h1>
: results.map(p => <h6> {p} </h6>)
}
</>
)
}
export default Results;
For example in the console log that tells me when use effect is triggered. and when i search for a post the use effect triggered is stacking up.

useEffect has a differents mode. You can check how to use in official document https://reactjs.org/docs/hooks-reference.html#useeffect
So the main you must know is 3 things
useEffect is the last render in react. So first render a components and read other code when it finish useEffect run.
useEffect may run code only one time adding []. for example
useEffect ( () => {
...code
}, [])
This code will run only one time.
useEffect may run code watching variables adding variables into []. For example
useEffect ( () => {
...code
}, [ count, name , ... ])
This code will run first time and later would run if count or name change

To achieve that you need to prevent useEffect to be called on any changes, and only once the query changes.
NOTE: Since you're using dispatch within fetchResults, it's better to make sure that dispatch is ready before calling fetchResults.
Your useEffect may look like the following to achieve that:
useEffect(() => {
// To prevent call fetchResults if dispatch only is changed
if (query) {
fetchResults();
console.log("use effect triggered");
}
}, [dispatch, query]);

Hooks like useEffect are used in function components. The Class component comparison to useEffect are the methods componentDidMount, componentDidUpdate, and componentWillUnmount.
useEffect will run when the component renders, which might be more times than you think.
So useEffect takes a second parameter
The second param is an array of variables that the component will check to make sure changed before re-rendering. You could put whatever bits of props and state you want in here to check against.
In your case add [query] as a second para:
useEffect(() => {
fetchResults();
console.log("use effect triggered")
},[query])
https://css-tricks.com/run-useeffect-only-once/

How to prevent infinite re-rendering with useEffect() in React [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
react useEffect comparing objects
(7 answers)
Closed 2 years ago.
I have an app that checks the user id on startup and loads the list of todo items based on the user logged in. I have the useEffect change only when data changes, but I have setData in the body of useEffect() meaning data changes and it re-runs infinitum.
However if I change [data] to [] in the second parameter, then it renders once BUT I have to refresh the page everytime I add a todo item for it to render rather than it render automatically. How can I have it render automatically without looping infinitely?
const [data, setData] = useState([])
useEffect(() => {
UserService.getUserById(localStorage.getItem("userId")).then(res => {
if (res.data !== null) {
setData(res.data.todos)
}
})
}, [data])

You can add a condition in the call back function that checks if a certain condition is met, e.g. if data is empty. If it is empty, then fetch data, otherwise do nothing. This will prevent the infinite loop from happening.
const getData = useEffect(()=>{
const fetchData = () => {
UserService.getUserById(localStorage.getItem("userId"))
.then(res => {
if (res.data !== null) {
setData(res.data.todos)
}
})
.catch(error => {
// do something with error
})
}
if (data.length === 0)
fetchData()
},[data]);
Alternatively, you use an empty dependency array so that the callback function in the useEffect is called once.

useCallback Hook can be used with slight modifications in your code.
You will need to import useCallback from "react" first.
import {useCallback} from "react";
And then use this useCallback around our getData function. (Have modified the answer a bit)
const getData = useCallback(()=>{
UserService.getUserById(localStorage.getItem("userId")).then(res => {
if (res.data !== null) {
setData(res.data.todos)
}
})
},[data]);
useEffect(() => {
getData();
}, [data])
This React Hook will make sure that the getData() function is only created when the second argument data changes.

In your code UserService.getUserById(localStorage.getItem("userId")) return a promise and it get data one time so you just have to call getUserById one time at the time of load by using [] and if you want to call it again make a function and use it wherever on refresh function or on adding todos item or update or delete function. Otherwise you have to use observable or useCallBack hook

You need to pass the reset param to prevent loop. once callback trigger reset value false. so that execution not running again until reset the value
Codesanbox
export default function App() {
let i = 1;
const [data, setData] = useState([]);
const [reset, setReset] = useState(true);
useEffect(() => {
if (reset) {
setTimeout(() => {
//callback
setReset(false);
setData(Math.random());
}, 1000);
}
}, [data]);
return (
<div className="App">
<h1>{data}</h1>
<button
onClick={() => {
setReset(true);
setData("");
}}
>
Click this and see the data render again. i just reset the data to empty
</button>
<h2>Start editing to see some magic happen!</h2>
</div>
);
}

Use a condition to stop the loop by setting a condition to stop it. You can check if a certain value is set or check if there are any values sent at all.

state is not updating using React hook

This is a function which has to be called when the component mounts on DOM
const [dashboardData, setDashboardData] = useState('');
const loadDashboardData = () => {
console.log("Loading Dashboard Data ", campaign);
Utils.request({
url: `campaign/user/info`
}).then(
res => {
console.log("dashboard data" , res.data)
setDashboardData(res.data);
},
err => console.log(err)
)
}
useEffect(() => {
loadDashboardData();
console.log("campaigndata",dashboardData);
}, []);
when I console dashboardData in useEffect, it shows nothing but a string i.e campaigndata which I passed as the first argument in console.log. what I think that my dashboard state variable is not getting updated

Answer
Write another useEffect just for dashboardData.
useEffect(() => {
console.log("campaigndata",dashboardData);
}, [dashboardData]);
Explanation
Your useEffect is taking an empty array as the second argument, which makes it run only the first time (as DidMount), so it won't re-run on component re-render after changing the state, that's why it is showing empty string as the initial state.
Writing another useEffect for the variable dashboardData will run as many times as the dashboardData changes.

You can just pass the 'dashboard' to the existing useEffect as dependency. The existing useEffect will work as both componentDidMount and componentDidUpdate.
So no need to write another useEffect.
useEffect(() => {
loadDashboardData();
console.log("campaigndata",dashboardData);
}, [dashboardData]);