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useEffect hook

The useEffect hook function can be used to perform side-effects in React function component. The side-effect can be for example, network request.

Syntax​

The useEffect hook function takes two arguments:

React.useEffect(callback, [dependencies])

where,

  • callback contains the code for the side effect you want to perform.
  • dependencies is an optional dependency array that contains values that useEffect hook depends on.

Without dependency array​

Without the dependency array, side-effect is automatically executed each time after component has been rendered.

React.useEffect(() => {
  // Code here is executed after each re-render
});

Using dependency array​

We can pass an array as the second argument to the useEffect hook (dependency array). In the following example, we pass count state to the useEffect hook. In that case, side-effect re-runs only if the count state value changes.

React.useEffect(() => {
  // Code here is executed only if the count state changes
}, [count]);

Empty dependency array​

You can also pass an empty array to useEffect hook. Then side-effect runs only after the first render. This is good for example, when we make calls to REST APIs.

React.useEffect(() => {
  // Code here is executed only after the first render
}, []);

useEffect cleanup​

One example of a side effect is connection to some external system. You can use useEffect to connect after the first render. The useEffect hook has optional cleanup functionality that you can use. It is return statement, and the code is invoked after the component has been removed from the page (unmounted).

useEffect(() => {
  // Side effect code

  return () => {
    // Clean up code
  }
}, [dependencies])

Example: Component connects to a chat room after the first render. When component is unmounted, it disconnects from a chat room.

// Example from https://react.dev
import { useEffect } from 'react';
import { createConnection } from './chat.js';

function ChatRoom() {
  useEffect(() => {
    const connection = createConnection('https://localhost:1234/room1');
    connection.connect();
    // Cleanup --> disconnect
    return () => {
        connection.disconnect(); // Invoked when component is unmounted
    };
  }, []);
  // ...
}

React hooks rules​

There are some general rules when using React hooks (useState, useEffect, etc.):

  1. Use hooks only at the top level of your component function.
  2. Don’t use hooks inside the loops, if statements or nested functions.
CORRECT
function MyComponent() {
  React.useEffect(() => {
    // Some code
  })
  ...
}
WRONG
function MyComponent() {    
  function fetchData() {
    // useEffect is called inside a nested function
    React.useEffect(() => {
      // Some code
    })
  }
  ...
}

Further reading​