How to Trigger componentDidUpdate in a Parent Component from a Child Component in React

Learn how to effectively trigger `componentDidUpdate` in a parent React class component when a child functional component's event is fired.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/69960016/ asked by the user 'penguin' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/17215694/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/69960144/ provided by the user 'S. Argentina' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9211117/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: How to trigger parent componentDidUpdate by click in child component

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Trigger componentDidUpdate in a Parent Component from a Child Component in React

In the world of React, handling interactions between parent and child components can sometimes be challenging, especially when dealing with class-based and functional components. If you're encountering an issue where clicking a button in a child component (like a delete icon) needs to update the parent component state, you might be stuck wondering how to best approach it. This guide will guide you through this process step-by-step.

The Problem: Updating Parent State on Child Action

Consider a scenario where you have a parent component, ListOfItems, defined as a class component. This component lists several objects and has a lifecycle method called componentDidUpdate. You also have a child component, Object, which provides functionality to delete an item by clicking an "x" icon.

Here's a basic outline of the issue:

Your parent component (ListOfItems.js) has a method componentDidUpdate, but it doesn't seem to trigger when the child component deletes an object.

Ideally, you want the componentDidUpdate method in your parent to execute whenever a user deletes an object from the list within the child component.

The Solution: Passing Functions from Parent to Child

To effectively solve this issue, you need to create a function in your parent component and pass it down to the child component. This function will be responsible for updating the state in the parent component, which in turn will trigger componentDidUpdate.

Step-by-step Implementation

Define a State Update Function in the Parent Component

Here’s how you can set up a function in your parent component that updates the state (if necessary) and ensures the parent will re-render:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Pass the Function to the Child Component

When rendering the child component inside the ListOfItems class, ensure you pass the defined function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Call the Function in the Child Component on Click

Now, in your Object functional component, you can call this passed function when the "x" icon is clicked:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

And then in your render method of Object.js for the delete icon:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following the above steps, you can effectively trigger componentDidUpdate in the parent class component whenever an event occurs in the child functional component. The key takeaway here is to always have a mechanism to pass functions around in React, allowing child components to communicate with their parents.

This method not only helps to maintain clean code but also adheres to React's component architecture, ensuring smooth operation between different component types.

If you have any questions or further clarifications, feel free to leave your comments below!