react18-string-refs

SKILL.md

React 18 String Refs Migration

String refs (ref="myInput" + this.refs.myInput) were deprecated in React 16.3, warn in React 18.3.1, and are removed in React 19.

Quick Pattern Map

Pattern
Reference

Single ref on a DOM element
→ patterns.md#single-ref

Multiple refs in one component
→ patterns.md#multiple-refs

Refs in a list / dynamic refs
→ patterns.md#list-refs

Callback refs (alternative approach)
→ patterns.md#callback-refs

Ref passed to a child component
→ patterns.md#forwarded-refs

Scan Command

# Find all string ref assignments in JSX
grep -rn 'ref="' src/ --include="*.js" --include="*.jsx" | grep -v "\.test\."