ReactJS call parent method

ReactJS: How to Call a Parent Method

As a ReactJS developer, you may come across situations where you need to call a method defined in a parent component from a child component. This can be achieved using various techniques in React. In this article, we will explore a few approaches to accomplish this task.

Approach 1: Using Props

One of the simplest ways to call a parent method from a child component is by passing the method as a prop to the child component. Here’s an example:

    // ParentComponent.js
    import React from 'react';
  
    class ParentComponent extends React.Component {
      parentMethod() {
        // Logic for parent method
      }
  
      render() {
        return (
          
        );
      }
    }
  
    // ChildComponent.js
    import React from 'react';
  
    class ChildComponent extends React.Component {
      render() {
        return (
          Call Parent Method
        );
      }
    }
  

In the above example, the parent component defines a method called parentMethod. This method is passed as a prop to the child component, ChildComponent. When the button in the child component is clicked, the parentMethod is called.

Approach 2: Using Context

If you have a complex component hierarchy and passing props down multiple levels becomes cumbersome, you can use React’s Context API to call a parent method from a child component. Here’s an example:

    // ParentComponent.js
    import React from 'react';
  
    const ParentContext = React.createContext();
  
    class ParentComponent extends React.Component {
      parentMethod() {
        // Logic for parent method
      }
  
      render() {
        return (
          
            
          
        );
      }
    }
  
    // ChildComponent.js
    import React from 'react';
  
    class ChildComponent extends React.Component {
      render() {
        return (
          
            {parentMethod => (
              Call Parent Method
            )}
          
        );
      }
    }
  

In this example, the parent component creates a context using React.createContext() and defines the parentMethod. The method is then provided as a value to the context using ParentContext.Provider. The child component, ChildComponent, consumes the context using ParentContext.Consumer and calls the parentMethod when the button is clicked.

Approach 3: Using Refs

If you need to call a specific method of the parent component, you can use refs to achieve this. Here’s an example:

    // ParentComponent.js
    import React from 'react';
  
    class ParentComponent extends React.Component {
      parentMethod() {
        // Logic for parent method
      }
  
      render() {
        return (
           (this.child = child)} />
        );
      }
    }
  
    // ChildComponent.js
    import React from 'react';
  
    class ChildComponent extends React.Component {
      childMethod() {
        // Logic for child method
        this.props.parentMethod(); // Call parent method
      }
  
      render() {
        return (
          Call Parent Method
        );
      }
    }
  

In this example, the parent component assigns a ref to the child component using ref={child => (this.child = child)}. The child component defines a method called childMethod which calls the parent method using this.props.parentMethod(). When the button is clicked, the childMethod is called, and in turn, the parent method is invoked.

These are just a few approaches to call a parent method from a child component in ReactJS. Choose the one that best suits your specific use case and component hierarchy.

We hope this article has helped you understand how to call a parent method in ReactJS. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Happy coding!