Unable to retrieve specific elements using this.$refs in Vue.js

Question

Unable to retrieve specific elements using this.$refs in Vue.js

I've encountered a peculiar issue. I'm trying to access certain elements within the created() hook, but I seem to be running into some trouble specifically with the refs object:

    created() {
      console.log(this.$refs)
    }

    // output:
    {
      bar: div.red.bar
      content: div.name-description
      description: p.description.dark
      redContainer: div.red.red-container
      sections: div.sections
      title: h1.name.dark
      __proto__: Object
    }

Oddly enough, when I attempt to target a specific element, it returns undefined:

created() {
    console.log(this.$refs.content)
  }
  
//output

undefined

Can anyone shed some light on why this is happening? I'm facing similar issues when trying to retrieve width/height information from elements in computed properties... (e.g. this.$refs.content.clientWidth)

javascript vue.js this

Answer 1

Answer №1

When working with the created hook in Vue, keep in mind that you won't be able to access refs for child components or elements as they have not been instantiated yet. To ensure you can access these refs, use the mounted hook instead:

Vue.component('foo', {
  template: '<div>foo</div>',
  created() {
    console.log('foo created')
  }
})

new Vue({
  el: '#app',
  created() {
    console.log('parent created: $refs.foo is null?', this.$refs.foo == null)
  },
  mounted() {
    console.log('parent mounted: $refs.foo is null?', this.$refs.foo == null)
  },
})

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/vue/2.5.17/vue.js"></script>

<div id="app">
  <foo ref="foo"></foo>
</div>

If you're noticing a discrepancy between what the console.log shows and the actual presence of the components, it could be due to the lazy evaluation of properties within this.$refs. The browser may only evaluate these properties once expanded, which happens after the child components have already been created.

Answer 2

When working with the created hook in Vue, keep in mind that you won't be able to access refs for child components or elements as they have not been instantiated yet. To ensure you can access these refs, use the mounted hook instead:

Vue.component('foo', {
  template: '<div>foo</div>',
  created() {
    console.log('foo created')
  }
})

new Vue({
  el: '#app',
  created() {
    console.log('parent created: $refs.foo is null?', this.$refs.foo == null)
  },
  mounted() {
    console.log('parent mounted: $refs.foo is null?', this.$refs.foo == null)
  },
})

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/vue/2.5.17/vue.js"></script>

<div id="app">
  <foo ref="foo"></foo>
</div>

If you're noticing a discrepancy between what the console.log shows and the actual presence of the components, it could be due to the lazy evaluation of properties within this.$refs. The browser may only evaluate these properties once expanded, which happens after the child components have already been created.

Answer 3

Answer №2

this.$refs is considered as an object type. Initially, when your output is generated, it will be assigned a value of undefined. However, once the component is mounted, it will receive another value of object type. It's important to note that both values share the same memory reference, so if one is changed, the other will also reflect this change.

Answer 4

this.$refs is considered as an object type. Initially, when your output is generated, it will be assigned a value of undefined. However, once the component is mounted, it will receive another value of object type. It's important to note that both values share the same memory reference, so if one is changed, the other will also reflect this change.

Unable to retrieve specific elements using this.$refs in Vue.js

Answer №1

Answer №2

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