How React Forwardref Works in Modern Apps?

In React, components are designed to be reusable and declarative. However, there are situations where a parent component needs direct access to a child component’s DOM node—for example, to focus an input field, trigger an animation, or integrate with a third-party library. This is where React forwardRef becomes useful.

forwardRef allows a ref to be passed from a parent component to a child component, even when that child is a functional component. This capability helps developers maintain clean component abstractions while still enabling controlled access to underlying DOM elements.

What is React forwardRef?

forwardRef is a React API that enables a component to receive a ref from its parent and pass it down to one of its child elements. By default, refs do not work with functional components unless forwardRef is used.

In simple terms:

1. Parent component creates a ref
2. Child component receives that ref using forwardRef
3. Ref is attached to a DOM element inside the child

Why is ForwardRef Needed in React?

React encourages encapsulation, but some scenarios require controlled access to DOM nodes.

How forwardRef Works in React?

The forwardRef function wraps a component and provides access to the ref as the second argument.

const MyComponent = React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
return ;
});

Example: Using forwardRef to Focus an Input

import React from "react";
const InputField = React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
return ;
});
export default InputField;

import React, { useRef } from "react";
import InputField from "./InputField";
function App() {
const inputRef = useRef(null);
const focusInput = () => {
inputRef.current.focus();
};
return (
<>
Focus Input
</>
);
}
export default App;

forwardRef vs useRef: What’s the Difference?

useRef is mainly used to create a reference within a component, often for accessing DOM elements or persisting values without causing re-renders. In contrast, forwardRef allows a parent component to pass its ref down to a child component, enabling direct access to the child’s DOM or instance.

useRef creates the reference, while forwardRef passes it through components.

Combining forwardRef with useImperativeHandle

Sometimes you don’t want to expose the entire DOM element. Instead, you want to expose specific methods. This is where useImperativeHandle is useful.

import React, { forwardRef, useImperativeHandle, useRef } from "react";
const CustomInput = forwardRef((props, ref) => {
const inputRef = useRef();
useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
focus: () => inputRef.current.focus(),
clear: () => (inputRef.current.value = "")
}));
return ;
});
export default CustomInput;

When Should You Use forwardRef?

Use forwardRef when:

1. You are building reusable UI components
2. A parent must interact with a child’s DOM node
3. You are integrating external libraries
4. You want to keep component APIs clean

Avoid using it when simple prop-based communication is sufficient.

Best Practices for Using forwardRef

• Use it sparingly to avoid tight coupling
• Combine with useImperativeHandle for controlled exposure
• Document exposed behaviors clearly
• Avoid passing refs through multiple layers unnecessarily
• Avoid unnecessary ref usage, as excessive ref forwarding can make components harder to reason about.
• Code uses forwardRef import OR React.forwardRef consistently across examples.

Common Mistakes with forwardRef

1. Overusing refs instead of state
2. Passing refs through unrelated components
3. Exposing entire DOM nodes unnecessarily
4. Forgetting that refs do not trigger re-renders

Understanding these pitfalls helps maintain clean architecture.

How Moon Technolabs Supports Advanced React Development?

Moon Technolabs empowers businesses to build scalable, high-performance React applications by leveraging advanced React patterns, modern hooks, and component-driven architecture. Our team focuses on clean code practices, reusable components, and optimized state management to ensure applications remain maintainable and future-ready as they grow.

We also specialize in implementing advanced React features such as forwardRef, Suspense, concurrent rendering, and performance optimization techniques. By aligning UI development with business goals, we help reduce load times, improve user experience, and enhance application responsiveness across devices.

With deep expertise in integrating React with backend systems, cloud platforms, and third-party APIs, Moon Technolabs delivers end-to-end React solutions. Our approach ensures seamless collaboration, faster delivery cycles, and robust applications that support long-term digital transformation.

Conclusion

React forwardRef is a powerful feature that bridges the gap between component abstraction and DOM control. When used correctly, it enables flexible, reusable, and maintainable components without breaking React’s design principles. By combining forwardRef with hooks like useImperativeHandle, developers can build advanced UI components that are both robust and elegant.