A Thoughtful Way To Use React's useRef() Hook — Smashing Magazine
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![](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6cf66d77-d466-449f-90ad-da8545f5db99/react-useref-hook.png)
In a React component, `useState` and `useReducer` can cause your component to re-render each time there is a call to the update functions. In this article, you will find out how to use the `useRef()` hook to keep track of variables without causing re-renders, and how to enforce the re-rendering of React Components.
![](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/847df04c-f117-4f42-9559-94ef3b2817c6/6-react-useref-hook.gif)
A Thoughtful Way To Use React's useRef() Hook — Smashing Magazine
![](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6cf66d77-d466-449f-90ad-da8545f5db99/react-useref-hook.png)
A Thoughtful Way To Use React's useRef() Hook — Smashing Magazine
![](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d8cf523a-bf3c-4981-bbcc-c1259124b54a/3-react-useref-hook.gif)
A Thoughtful Way To Use React's useRef() Hook — Smashing Magazine
![](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6aac040c-c818-411f-a437-4c3e3306e0c2/5-react-useref-hook.gif)
A Thoughtful Way To Use React's useRef() Hook — Smashing Magazine
![](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/c4b597fa-4d9e-462b-897d-0c958fcb1f90/aleem-isiaka-200x200.jpg)
A Thoughtful Way To Use React's useRef() Hook — Smashing Magazine