ReactJS Methods as Props

ReactJS is a front-end JavaScript library for building user interfaces written and maintained by Facebook. We know that everything in ReactJS is a component and to pass in data to these components, props are used. Although passing in props like this is great, it surely lacks flexibility in an application. For example, we cannot let the child communicate with the parent in this way. This, nonetheless, can be done by passing methods as props in ReactJS. 

To use a method as a prop all the steps are described below order wise:

Project Structure: The structure of this project will look like this.

Step 1: To do this let’s make a new component named ParentComponent.js. Now let’s make the basic layout for a class component in this file.

ParentCompnent.js:

Javascript

import React, { Component } from 'react';

class ParentComponent extends Component {
    render() {
        return (
            <div>

            </div>
        )
    }
}

export default ParentComponent;

Step 2: Now let’s set a state to greet our parent whenever this component is rendered, setting a state is not necessary, but we will do it just to make an application more dynamic. Also, let’s make an event that gives an alert whenever the parent component is rendered. Do not forget to bind the event so that the this keyword won’t return “undefined“. 

ParentComponent.js:

Javascript

import React, { Component } from 'react';

class ParentComponent extends Component {
    constructor(props) {
        super(props)

        this.state = {
            parentName:'Parent'
        }

        this.greetParent = this.greetParent.bind(this)
    }

    greetParent() {
        alert(`Hello ${this.state.parentName}`)
    }

    render() {
        return (
            <div>

            </div>
        )
    }
}

export default ParentComponent;

Step 3: Let’s not forget to import this into our App.js file.

App.js:

Javascript

import './App.css';
import React from 'react';

// imports component
import ParentComponent from './components/ParentComponent';

function App() {
    return (
        <div className="App">
            <h1>-----------METHODS AS PROPS-------------</h1>
            <ParentComponent />

        </div>
    );
}

export default App;

Step 4: Now let’s make a new component. Let’s call this ChildComponent.js, and make a simple functional component. Let’s make a simple button, and then pass the method greetParent() as a property. Essentially, the button must greet the parent when it is clicked.

ChildComponent.js:

Javascript

import React from 'react';

function ChildComponent(props) {
    return (
        <div>
            <button onClick={() => props.greetHandler()}>
                Greet Parent
            </button>
        </div>
    )
}

export default ChildComponent;

Step 5: Don’t forget to import the ChildComponent in ParentComponent. So the final code for ParentComponent will be as follows.

ParentComponent.js:

Javascript

import React, { Component } from 'react';
import ChildComponent from './ChildComponent';

class ParentComponent extends Component {
    constructor(props) {
        super(props);

        this.state = {
            parentName:'Parent'
        }

        this.greetParent = this.greetParent.bind(this)
    }

    greetParent() {
        alert(`Hello ${this.state.parentName}`)
    }

    render() {
        return (
            <div>
                <ChildComponent greetHandler={this.greetParent}/>
            </div>
        )
    }
}

export default ParentComponent;

Output: