Guide to sending a reference to a child input element using VueJs

Question

Guide to sending a reference to a child input element using VueJs

I am currently attempting to pass a ref in order to retrieve the value of the input (base-input component) upon submission. The two components are listed below. Despite having a console.log statement in handleSubmit, the email variable always appears as undefined.

Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Parent Component

<template>
  <form @submit.prevent="handleSubmit">
    <div class="flex flex-col mt-10">
      <form-label forInput="email" label="Email Address" />
      <base-input type="email" name="email" ref="email" />
    </div>
  </form>
</template>

<script>

import BaseInput from "../UI/BaseInput.vue";
export default {
  components: {
    BaseInput,
  },
  methods: {
    handleSubmit() {
      const email = this.$refs.email.value;
      console.log(email);
    },
  },
};
</script>

Child Input Component

<template>
  <input
    :type="type"
    :name="name"
    :ref="name"
  />
</template>

<script>
export default {
  props: ["type", "name"],
};
</script>

javascript vue.js ref

Answer 1

Answer №1

If you're looking to retrieve the value from a child's input field within the parent component, you'll need a way for data to move between the child and parent components, which is achieved through emits.

Wouldn't it be convenient to use v-model with your custom BaseInput component, similar to how you would bind form inputs?

<input
  :value="text"
  @input="event => text = event.target.value">

or simply use v-model:

<input v-model="text">

Imagine being able to do this:

<BaseInput v-model="email" />

Fortunately, you can achieve this. All you need is a modelValue prop and an update:modelValue emit event.

You can encapsulate both of these in a writable computed property for cleaner and more readable code:

const props = defineProps({
    modelValue: {
        type: String,
    },
});

const emit = defineEmits(['update:modelValue']);

const internalValue = computed({
    get() {
        return props.modelValue;
    },
    set(value: string) {
        return emit('update:modelValue', value);
    },
});

When a new value is assigned to internalValue, it emits that event to the parent component and syncs it via props.modelValue. This means any changes made to props.modelValue in the parent component will also reflect in your custom component, and vice versa.

I find this method particularly intuitive as it provides a natural way of handling your component's logic. Moreover, this concept isn't limited to v-model only - you can apply it to synchronize any prop with the parent component. Simply use a name prop and an update:name emit in the child component, and then utilize v-model:name in the parent component.

Resources:

https://vuejs.org/guide/components/events.html#usage-with-v-model

Answer 2

If you're looking to retrieve the value from a child's input field within the parent component, you'll need a way for data to move between the child and parent components, which is achieved through emits.

Wouldn't it be convenient to use v-model with your custom BaseInput component, similar to how you would bind form inputs?

<input
  :value="text"
  @input="event => text = event.target.value">

or simply use v-model:

<input v-model="text">

Imagine being able to do this:

<BaseInput v-model="email" />

Fortunately, you can achieve this. All you need is a modelValue prop and an update:modelValue emit event.

You can encapsulate both of these in a writable computed property for cleaner and more readable code:

const props = defineProps({
    modelValue: {
        type: String,
    },
});

const emit = defineEmits(['update:modelValue']);

const internalValue = computed({
    get() {
        return props.modelValue;
    },
    set(value: string) {
        return emit('update:modelValue', value);
    },
});

When a new value is assigned to internalValue, it emits that event to the parent component and syncs it via props.modelValue. This means any changes made to props.modelValue in the parent component will also reflect in your custom component, and vice versa.

I find this method particularly intuitive as it provides a natural way of handling your component's logic. Moreover, this concept isn't limited to v-model only - you can apply it to synchronize any prop with the parent component. Simply use a name prop and an update:name emit in the child component, and then utilize v-model:name in the parent component.

Resources:

https://vuejs.org/guide/components/events.html#usage-with-v-model

Answer 3

Answer №2

There is a spelling mistake in the BaseInput within the template.

Instead of

<base-input type="email" name="email" ref="email" />

You should update it to

<BaseInput :type="'email'" :name="'email'" ref="email" />

A better approach would be to utilize @emit()

Child.vue

<template>
  <input
    :type="type"
    :name="name"
    @change="$emit('inputContent', Content)"
    v-model="Content"
  />
</template>

<script>
export default {
  emits: ['inputContent'],
   data() {
        return {
            Content: '',
        }
    },
  props: ["type", "name"],
};
</script>

Remember to define your props as strings. 😉

Parent.vue

<template>
  <BaseInput :type="'email'" :name="'email'" ref="email" @inputContent="handleSubmit"/>
</template>
<script>

import BaseInput from "../UI/BaseInput.vue";
export default {
  components: {
    BaseInput,
  },
  methods: {
    handleSubmit(content) {
      const email = content;
      console.log(email);
    },
  },
};
</script>

Check out more about emits in the vue docs and how to use v-model

I trust this information is helpful :)

Answer 4

There is a spelling mistake in the BaseInput within the template.

Instead of

<base-input type="email" name="email" ref="email" />

You should update it to

<BaseInput :type="'email'" :name="'email'" ref="email" />

A better approach would be to utilize @emit()

Child.vue

<template>
  <input
    :type="type"
    :name="name"
    @change="$emit('inputContent', Content)"
    v-model="Content"
  />
</template>

<script>
export default {
  emits: ['inputContent'],
   data() {
        return {
            Content: '',
        }
    },
  props: ["type", "name"],
};
</script>

Remember to define your props as strings. 😉

Parent.vue

<template>
  <BaseInput :type="'email'" :name="'email'" ref="email" @inputContent="handleSubmit"/>
</template>
<script>

import BaseInput from "../UI/BaseInput.vue";
export default {
  components: {
    BaseInput,
  },
  methods: {
    handleSubmit(content) {
      const email = content;
      console.log(email);
    },
  },
};
</script>

Check out more about emits in the vue docs and how to use v-model

I trust this information is helpful :)

Guide to sending a reference to a child input element using VueJs

Answer №1

Answer №2

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