javascript - Clear an input field with Reactjs?

Question

I am using a variable below.

var newInput = {
   title: this.inputTitle.value,
   entry: this.inputEntry.value    
};

This is used by my input fields.

<input type="text" id="inputname" className="form-control" ref={el => this.inputTitle = el} />   
<textarea id="inputage" ref={el => this.inputEntry = el} className="form-control" />
<button className="btn btn-info" onClick={this.sendthru}>Add</button>

Once I activate {this.sendthru} I want to clear my input fields. However, I am uncertain how to do so.

Also, as shown in this example, it was pointed out to me that I should use the ref property for input values. What I am unclear of is what exactly does it mean to have {el => this.inputEntry = el}. What is the significance of el in this situation?

Answer 1

Let me assume that you have done the 'this' binding of 'sendThru' function.

The below functions clears the input fields when the method is triggered.

sendThru() {
    this.inputTitle.value = "";
    this.inputEntry.value = "";
}

Refs can be written as inline function expression:

ref={el => this.inputTitle = el}

where el refers to the component.

When refs are written like above, React sees a different function object each time so on every update, ref will be called with null immediately before it's called with the component instance.

Read more about it here.