React ref returns a 'Connect' object instead of DOM

Question

I'm trying to create dynamics refs for custom components created through the map function.

class PostsList extends Component {

  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
  }

  componentDidUpdate = () => {
    console.log(this.refs);
  }

  render() {
    let posts = this.props.posts || [];
    return (
        <div ref="test">
          {posts.map((post) => {
            return <Post post={post} key={post.id} ref={post.id}></Post>
          })}
        </div>
    );
  }

}

export default PostsList

the console.log returns the correct DOM node for refs.test but for the ones in the loop, it's returning a Connect Object.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Answer 1

It seems like Post is a connected component, while you actually want the wrapped one.

react-redux ≥ 6.0.0

Connect with forwardRef: true

connect(null, null, null, { forwardRef: true })(Post);

then add a ref normally:

ref={ref => this.<id> = ref}

From the docs:

If {forwardRef : true} has been passed to connect, adding a ref to the connected wrapper component will actually return the instance of the wrapped component.

---

react-redux < 6

Connect with withRef: true

connect(null, null, null, { withRef: true })(Post);

then use getWrappedInstance() to get the underlying connected component:

this.refs[<id>].getWrappedInstance()

From the docs:

[withRef] (Boolean): If true, stores a ref to the wrapped component instance and makes it available via getWrappedInstance() method. Default value: false

Answer 2

An alternative way to do this would be to use some other prop name (other than ref). For example:

<Post
  ...
  innerRef={(node) => { this.myRef = node; }}
/>

This also works if you're using a library like styled-components or emotion