Reactjs setState() with a dynamic key name?

Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
September 2, 2023
Cover Image for Reactjs setState() with a dynamic key name?

ReactJS setState() with a Dynamic Key Name: A Handy Guide 💻🔑

Are you struggling with setting the state in ReactJS using a dynamic key name? Look no further! We've got you covered. 😎

The Problem 😰

One frustrated developer asked this question on Stack Overflow: "Can I use a dynamic key name when setting the state in React?" They were trying to achieve something like this:

inputChangeHandler: function(event) {
    this.setState({ event.target.id : event.target.value });
},

Where event.target.id would be used as the key name to update the state. Unfortunately, this approach doesn't seem to work in React. 😔

The Solution 🤩

Fear not! While React may not directly support using a dynamic key name in setState(), there is a simple workaround. 💡

Instead of directly using a dynamic key name, you can use a computed property name to achieve the desired functionality. Here's how you can do it:

inputChangeHandler: function(event) {
    const dynamicKey = event.target.id;
    const newValue = event.target.value;

    this.setState({ [dynamicKey]: newValue });
},

In this solution, we create a variable dynamicKey to store the dynamic key name, and a variable newValue to store the value we want to update.

Then, we pass an object to setState(), using square brackets [] around the dynamicKey to indicate that it's a computed property name. This allows React to evaluate the value of dynamicKey as the key name.

Example Time! 🚀

Let's see this solution in action with a practical example!

Suppose we have a form with two input fields, username and password. We want to update the state dynamically as the user types in each field. Check out the code below:

inputChangeHandler: function(event) {
    const dynamicKey = event.target.id;
    const newValue = event.target.value;

    this.setState({ [dynamicKey]: newValue });
},

render: function() {
    return (
        <div>
            <input id="username" onChange={this.inputChangeHandler} />
            <input id="password" onChange={this.inputChangeHandler} />
        </div>
    );
}

In this example, the inputChangeHandler function is called whenever any of the input fields change. The event.target.id is used as the dynamic key name to update the state. Easy peasy, right? 😄

Keep Exploring! ⚡️

Now that you know how to set the state with a dynamic key name in ReactJS, go ahead and try it out in your projects! 🚀

Remember, learning is more fun with hands-on experience. So, experiment with different scenarios and dive deeper into ReactJS.

If you have any questions or want to share your experience, feel free to drop a comment below. Let's learn and grow together! 🌱💪

Now, go on and conquer ReactJS with your newfound knowledge! Happy coding! 😊✨

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