React Native: How to select the next TextInput after pressing the "next" keyboard button?

Question

I defined two TextInput fields as follows:

<TextInput 
   style = {styles.titleInput}
   returnKeyType = {"next"}
   autoFocus = {true}
   placeholder = "Title" />
<TextInput
   style = {styles.descriptionInput}          
   multiline = {true}
   maxLength = {200}
   placeholder = "Description" />

But after pressing the "next" button on my keyboard, my react-native app isn't jumping to the second TextInput field. How can I achieve that?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Set the second TextInput focus, when the previous TextInput's onSubmitEditing is triggered.

Try this

1. Adding a Ref to second TextInput
   ref={(input) => { this.secondTextInput = input; }}

2. Bind focus function to first TextInput's onSubmitEditing event.
   onSubmitEditing={() => { this.secondTextInput.focus(); }}

3. Remember to set blurOnSubmit to false, to prevent keyboard flickering.
   blurOnSubmit={false}

When all done, it should looks like this.

<TextInput
    placeholder="FirstTextInput"
    returnKeyType="next"
    onSubmitEditing={() => { this.secondTextInput.focus(); }}
    blurOnSubmit={false}
/>

<TextInput
    ref={(input) => { this.secondTextInput = input; }}
    placeholder="secondTextInput"
/>

Answer 2

Thought I would share my solution using a function component... 'this' not needed!

React 16.12.0 and React Native 0.61.5

Here is an example of my component:

import React, { useRef } from 'react'
...


const MyFormComponent = () => {

  const ref_input2 = useRef();
  const ref_input3 = useRef();

  return (
    <>
      <TextInput
        placeholder="Input1"
        autoFocus={true}
        returnKeyType="next"
        onSubmitEditing={() => ref_input2.current.focus()}
      />
      <TextInput
        placeholder="Input2"
        returnKeyType="next"
        onSubmitEditing={() => ref_input3.current.focus()}
        ref={ref_input2}
      />
      <TextInput
        placeholder="Input3"
        ref={ref_input3}
      />
    </>
  )
}

Answer 3

You can do this without using refs. This approach is preferred, since refs can lead to fragile code. The React docs advise finding other solutions where possible:

If you have not programmed several apps with React, your first inclination is usually going to be to try to use refs to "make things happen" in your app. If this is the case, take a moment and think more critically about where state should be owned in the component hierarchy. Often, it becomes clear that the proper place to "own" that state is at a higher level in the hierarchy. Placing the state there often eliminates any desire to use refs to "make things happen" – instead, the data flow will usually accomplish your goal.

Instead, we'll use a state variable to focus the second input field.

1. Add a state variable that we'll pass as a prop to the DescriptionInput:

   initialState() {
     return {
       focusDescriptionInput: false,
     };
   }
   

2. Define a handler method that will set this state variable to true:

   handleTitleInputSubmit() {
     this.setState(focusDescriptionInput: true);
   }
   

3. Upon submitting / hitting enter / next on the TitleInput, we'll call handleTitleInputSubmit. This will set focusDescriptionInput to true.

   <TextInput 
      style = {styles.titleInput}
      returnKeyType = {"next"}
      autoFocus = {true}
      placeholder = "Title" 
      onSubmitEditing={this.handleTitleInputSubmit}
   />
   

4. DescriptionInput's focus prop is set to our focusDescriptionInput state variable. So, when focusDescriptionInput changes (in step 3), DescriptionInput will re-render with focus={true}.

   <TextInput
      style = {styles.descriptionInput}          
      multiline = {true}
      maxLength = {200}
      placeholder = "Description" 
      focus={this.state.focusDescriptionInput}
   />
   

This is a nice way to avoid using refs, since refs can lead to more fragile code :)

EDIT: h/t to @LaneRettig for pointing out that you'll need to wrap the React Native TextInput with some added props & methods to get it to respond to focus:

    // Props:
    static propTypes = { 
        focus: PropTypes.bool,
    } 

    static defaultProps = { 
        focus: false,
    } 

    // Methods:
    focus() {
        this._component.focus(); 
    } 

    componentWillReceiveProps(nextProps) {
        const {focus} = nextProps; 

        focus && this.focus(); 
    }

Answer 4

As of React Native 0.36, calling focus() (as suggested in several other answers) on a text input node isn't supported any more. Instead, you can use the TextInputState module from React Native. I created the following helper module to make this easier:

// TextInputManager
//
// Provides helper functions for managing the focus state of text
// inputs. This is a hack! You are supposed to be able to call
// "focus()" directly on TextInput nodes, but that doesn't seem
// to be working as of ReactNative 0.36
//
import { findNodeHandle } from 'react-native'
import TextInputState from 'react-native/lib/TextInputState'


export function focusTextInput(node) {
  try {
    TextInputState.focusTextInput(findNodeHandle(node))
  } catch(e) {
    console.log("Couldn't focus text input: ", e.message)
  }
}

You can, then, call the focusTextInput function on any "ref" of a TextInput. For example:

...
<TextInput onSubmit={() => focusTextInput(this.refs.inputB)} />
<TextInput ref="inputB" />
...

Answer 5

I created a small library that does this, no code change needed other than replacing your wrapping view and import of TextInput:

import { Form, TextInput } from 'react-native-autofocus'

export default () => (
  <Form>
    <TextInput placeholder="test" />
    <TextInput placeholder="test 2" />
  </Form>
)

https://github.com/zackify/react-native-autofocus

Explained in detail here: https://zach.codes/autofocus-inputs-in-react-native/

Answer 6

Combining @Eli Johnson's solution for functional components with @Rodrigo Tessarollo's solution for a CustomTextInput:

import React, { useRef } from 'react';
import { CustomTextInput } from 'path/to/CustomTextInput';
...


export const MyFormComponent = () => {

  const ref_to_input2 = useRef();

  return (
    <>
      <CustomTextInput
        placeholder="Input 1"
        autoFocus={true}
        returnKeyType="next"
        onSubmitEditing={() => ref_to_input2.current.focus()}
      />
      <CustomTextInput
        placeholder="Input 2"
        returnKeyType="done"
        refInner={ref_to_input2}
        onSubmitEditing={/* Do something! */}
      />
    </>
  )
}

and in your CustomTextInput component:

import { TextInput } from "react-native";
export const CustomTextInput = (props) => {
  <TextInput
        ref={props.refInner}
        {...props}
  />
}

Answer 7

Using react-native 0.45.1 I also encountered problems trying to set focus on a password TextInput after pressing return key on a username TextInput.

After having tried most of the top rated solutions here on SO I found a solution on github that fulfilled my needs: https://github.com/shoutem/ui/issues/44#issuecomment-290724642

To sum it up:

import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { TextInput as RNTextInput } from 'react-native';

export default class TextInput extends Component {
    render() {
        const { props } = this;

        return (
            <RNTextInput
                {...props}
                ref={(input) => props.inputRef && props.inputRef(input)}
            />
        );
    }
}

And then I use it like this:

import React, {Component} from 'react';
import {
    View,
} from 'react-native';
import TextInput from "../../components/TextInput";

class Login extends Component {
    constructor(props) {
        super(props);
        this.passTextInput = null
    }

    render() {
        return (
            <View style={{flex:1}}>
                <TextInput
                    style={{flex:1}}
                    placeholder="Username"
                    onSubmitEditing={(event) => {
                        this.passTextInput.focus()
                    }}
                />

                <TextInput
                    style={{flex:1}}
                    placeholder="Password"
                    inputRef={(input) => {
                        this.passTextInput = input
                    }}
                />
            </View>
        )
    }
}

Answer 8

For me on RN 0.50.3 it's possible with this way:

<TextInput 
  autoFocus={true} 
  onSubmitEditing={() => {this.PasswordInputRef._root.focus()}} 
/>

<TextInput ref={input => {this.PasswordInputRef = input}} />

You must see this.PasswordInputRef._root.focus()

Answer 9

My scenario is < CustomBoladonesTextInput /> wrapping a RN < TextInput />.

I solved this issue as follow:

My form looks like:

  <CustomBoladonesTextInput 
      onSubmitEditing={() => this.customInput2.refs.innerTextInput2.focus()}
      returnKeyType="next"
      ... />

  <CustomBoladonesTextInput 
       ref={ref => this.customInput2 = ref}
       refInner="innerTextInput2"
       ... />

On CustomBoladonesTextInput's component definition, I pass the refField to the inner ref prop like this:

   export default class CustomBoladonesTextInput extends React.Component {
      render() {        
         return (< TextInput ref={this.props.refInner} ... />);     
      } 
   }

And voila. Everything get back works again. Hope this helps

Answer 10

If you happen to be using tcomb-form-native as I am, you can do this, too. Here's the trick: instead of setting the props of the TextInput directly, you do it via options. You can refer to the fields of the form as:

this.refs.form.getComponent('password').refs.input.focus()

So the final product looks something like this:

var t = require('tcomb-form-native');
var Form = t.form.Form;

var MyForm = t.struct({
  field1:     t.String,
  field2:     t.String,
});

var MyComponent = React.createClass({

  _getFormOptions () {
    return {
      fields: {
        field1: {
          returnKeyType: 'next',
          onSubmitEditing: () => {this.refs.form.getComponent('field2').refs.input.focus()},
        },
      },
    };
  },

  render () {

    var formOptions = this._getFormOptions();

    return (
      <View style={styles.container}>
        <Form ref="form" type={MyForm} options={formOptions}/>
      </View>
    );
  },
});

(Credit to remcoanker for posting the idea here: https://github.com/gcanti/tcomb-form-native/issues/96)

Answer 11

This is the way I achieved it. And the example below has used the React.createRef() API introduced in React 16.3.

class Test extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.secondTextInputRef = React.createRef();
  }

  render() {
    return(
        <View>
            <TextInput
                placeholder = "FirstTextInput"
                returnKeyType="next"
                onSubmitEditing={() => { this.secondTextInputRef.current.focus(); }}
            />
            <TextInput
                ref={this.secondTextInputRef}
                placeholder = "secondTextInput"
            />
        </View>
    );
  }
}

I think this will help you.

Answer 12

Try this solution on React Native's GitHub issues.

https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/2149#issuecomment-129262565

You need to use the ref prop for the TextInput component.
Then you need a create a function that gets called on onSubmitEditing prop that moves the focus on the second TextInput ref.

var InputScreen = React.createClass({
    _focusNextField(nextField) {
        this.refs[nextField].focus()
    },

    render: function() {
        return (
            <View style={styles.container}>
                <TextInput
                    ref='1'
                    style={styles.input}
                    placeholder='Normal'
                    returnKeyType='next'
                    blurOnSubmit={false}
                    onSubmitEditing={() => this._focusNextField('2')}
                />
                <TextInput
                    ref='2'
                    style={styles.input}
                    keyboardType='email-address'
                    placeholder='Email Address'
                    returnKeyType='next'
                    blurOnSubmit={false}
                    onSubmitEditing={() => this._focusNextField('3')}
                />
                <TextInput
                    ref='3'
                    style={styles.input}
                    keyboardType='url'
                    placeholder='URL'
                    returnKeyType='next'
                    blurOnSubmit={false}
                    onSubmitEditing={() => this._focusNextField('4')}
                />
                <TextInput
                    ref='4'
                    style={styles.input}
                    keyboardType='numeric'
                    placeholder='Numeric'
                    blurOnSubmit={false}
                    onSubmitEditing={() => this._focusNextField('5')}
                />
                <TextInput
                    ref='5'
                    style={styles.input}
                    keyboardType='numbers-and-punctuation'
                    placeholder='Numbers & Punctuation'
                    returnKeyType='done'
                />
            </View>
        );
    }
});

Answer 13

<TextInput placeholder="Nombre"
    ref="1"
    editable={true}
    returnKeyType="next"
    underlineColorAndroid={'#4DB6AC'}
    blurOnSubmit={false}
    value={this.state.First_Name}
    onChangeText={First_Name => this.setState({ First_Name })}
    onSubmitEditing={() => this.focusNextField('2')}
    placeholderTextColor="#797a7a" style={{ marginBottom: 10, color: '#808080', fontSize: 15, width: '100%', }} />

<TextInput placeholder="Apellido"
    ref="2"
    editable={true}
    returnKeyType="next"
    underlineColorAndroid={'#4DB6AC'}
    blurOnSubmit={false}
    value={this.state.Last_Name}
    onChangeText={Last_Name => this.setState({ Last_Name })}
    onSubmitEditing={() => this.focusNextField('3')}
    placeholderTextColor="#797a7a" style={{ marginBottom: 10, color: '#808080', fontSize: 15, width: '100%', }} />

and add method

focusNextField(nextField) {
    this.refs[nextField].focus();
}

Answer 14

Using callback refs instead of the legacy string refs:

<TextInput
    style = {styles.titleInput}
    returnKeyType = {"next"}
    autoFocus = {true}
    placeholder = "Title"
    onSubmitEditing={() => {this.nextInput.focus()}}
/>
<TextInput
    style = {styles.descriptionInput}  
    multiline = {true}
    maxLength = {200}
    placeholder = "Description"
    ref={nextInput => this.nextInput = nextInput}
/>

Answer 15

Here is how achieved this for reactjs phone code inputs

import React, { useState, useRef } from 'react';

function Header(props) {

  const [state , setState] = useState({
        phone_number:"",
        code_one:'',
        code_two:'',
        code_three:'',
        code_four:'',
        submitted:false,

  })

   const codeOneInput = useRef(null);
   const codeTwoInput = useRef(null);
   const codeThreeInput = useRef(null);
   const codeFourInput = useRef(null);

   const handleCodeChange = (e) => {
        const {id , value} = e.target
        if(value.length < 2){
            setState(prevState => ({
                ...prevState,
                [id] : value
            }))
            if(id=='code_one' && value.length >0){
                codeTwoInput.current.focus();
            }
            if(id=='code_two'  && value.length >0){
                codeThreeInput.current.focus();
            }
            if(id=='code_three'  && value.length >0){
                codeFourInput.current.focus();
            }
        }
    }

    const sendCodeToServer = () => {

         setState(prevState => ({
                ...prevState,
                submitted : true,
          }))
  let codeEnteredByUser = state.code_one + state.code_two + state.code_three + state.code_four

        axios.post(API_BASE_URL, {code:codeEnteredByUser})
        .then(function (response) {
            console.log(response)
        })

   }

   return(
        <>

           <div className="are">
                 <div className="POP-INN-INPUT">
                                        <input type="text" id="code_one" ref={codeOneInput}    value={state.code_one}  onChange={handleCodeChange} autoFocus/>
                                        <input type="text" id="code_two"  ref={codeTwoInput}  value={state.code_two} onChange={handleCodeChange}/>
                                        <input type="text" id="code_three"  ref={codeThreeInput} value={state.code_three}  onChange={handleCodeChange}/>
                                        <input type="text" id="code_four" ref={codeFourInput}  value={state.code_four}  onChange={handleCodeChange}/>
                                    </div>

            <button disabled={state.submitted} onClick={sendCodeToServer}>
   
    </div>

       </>
    )
}
export default

Answer 16

For the accepted solution to work if your TextInput is inside another component, you'll need to "pop" the reference from ref to the parent container.

// MyComponent
render() {
    <View>
        <TextInput ref={(r) => this.props.onRef(r)} { ...this.props }/>
    </View>
}

// MyView
render() {
    <MyComponent onSubmitEditing={(evt) => this.myField2.focus()}/>
    <MyComponent onRef={(r) => this.myField2 = r}/>
}

Answer 17

in your component:

constructor(props) {
        super(props);
        this.focusNextField = this
            .focusNextField
            .bind(this);
        // to store our input refs
        this.inputs = {};
    }
    focusNextField(id) {
        console.log("focus next input: " + id);
        this
            .inputs[id]
            ._root
            .focus();
    }

Note: I used ._root because it is a ref to TextInput in NativeBase'Library' Input

and in your text inputs like this

<TextInput
         onSubmitEditing={() => {
                          this.focusNextField('two');
                          }}
         returnKeyType="next"
         blurOnSubmit={false}/>


<TextInput      
         ref={input => {
              this.inputs['two'] = input;
                        }}/>

Answer 18

<TextInput 
    keyboardType="email-address"
    placeholder="Email"
    returnKeyType="next"
    ref="email"
    onSubmitEditing={() => this.focusTextInput(this.refs.password)}
    blurOnSubmit={false}
 />
<TextInput
    ref="password"
    placeholder="Password" 
    secureTextEntry={true} />

And add method for onSubmitEditing={() => this.focusTextInput(this.refs.password)} as below:

private focusTextInput(node: any) {
    node.focus();
}

Answer 19

There is a way to capture tabs in a TextInput. It's hacky, but better than nothing.

Define an onChangeText handler that compares the new input value with the old, checking for a \t. If one is found, advance the field as shown by @boredgames

Assuming the variable username contains the value for the username and setUsername dispatches an action to change it in the store (component state, redux store, etc), do something like this:

function tabGuard (newValue, oldValue, callback, nextCallback) {
  if (newValue.indexOf('\t') >= 0 && oldValue.indexOf('\t') === -1) {
    callback(oldValue)
    nextCallback()
  } else {
    callback(newValue)
  }
}

class LoginScene {
  focusNextField = (nextField) => {
    this.refs[nextField].focus()
  }

  focusOnPassword = () => {
    this.focusNextField('password')
  }

  handleUsernameChange = (newValue) => {
    const { username } = this.props            // or from wherever
    const { setUsername } = this.props.actions // or from wherever

    tabGuard(newValue, username, setUsername, this.focusOnPassword)
  }

  render () {
    const { username } = this.props

    return (
      <TextInput ref='username'
                 placeholder='Username'
                 autoCapitalize='none'
                 autoCorrect={false}
                 autoFocus
                 keyboardType='email-address'
                 onChangeText={handleUsernameChange}
                 blurOnSubmit={false}
                 onSubmitEditing={focusOnPassword}
                 value={username} />
    )
  }
}

Answer 20

Really annoying that RN doesn't have some sort of Tabindex system.

A functional component, for my use case, I have an array of string IDs for inputs which I iterate through and show one text input each. The following code will automatically jump the user through all of them, stopping the keyboard from disappearing/reappearing between fields and dismissing it at the end, also showing the appropriate "action" button on the keyboard.

Typescript, Native Base.

const stringFieldIDs = [
  'q1', 'q2', 'q3'
];

export default () => {
  const stringFieldRefs = stringFieldIDs.map(() => useRef < any > ());

  const basicStringField = (id: string, ind: number) => {
    const posInd = stringFieldIDs.indexOf(id);
    const isLast = posInd === stringFieldIDs.length - 1;

    return ( <
      Input blurOnSubmit = {
        isLast
      }
      ref = {
        stringFieldRefs[posInd]
      }
      returnKeyType = {
        isLast ? 'done' : 'next'
      }
      onSubmitEditing = {
        isLast ?
        undefined :
          () => stringFieldRefs[posInd + 1].current._root.focus()
      }
      />
    );
  };

  return stringFieldIDs.map(basicStringField);
};

Answer 21

import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef, } from 'react';

const OTP = (props) => {



    const OTP = [];
    const ref_input = [];
    ref_input[0] = useRef();
    ref_input[1] = useRef();
    ref_input[2] = useRef();
    ref_input[3] = useRef();

    const focusNext = (text, index) => {
        if (index < ref_input.length - 1 && text) {
            ref_input[index + 1].current.focus();
        }
        if (index == ref_input.length - 1) {
            ref_input[index].current.blur();
        }
        OTP[index] = text;
    }
    const focusPrev = (key, index) => {
        if (key === "Backspace" && index !== 0) {
            ref_input[index - 1].current.focus();
        }
    }

    return (
        <SafeAreaView>
            <View>
                
                    <ScrollView contentInsetAdjustmentBehavior="automatic" showsVerticalScrollIndicator={false}>
                        <View style={loginScreenStyle.titleWrap}>
                            <Title style={loginScreenStyle.titleHeading}>Verify OTP</Title>
                            <Subheading style={loginScreenStyle.subTitle}>Enter the 4 digit code sent to your mobile number</Subheading>
                        </View>
                        <View style={loginScreenStyle.inputContainer}>
                            <TextInput
                                mode="flat"
                                selectionColor={Colors.primaryColor}
                                underlineColorAndroid="transparent"
                                textAlign='center'
                                maxLength={1}
                                keyboardType='numeric'
                                style={formScreenStyle.otpInputStyle}
                                autoFocus={true}
                                returnKeyType="next"
                                ref={ref_input[0]}
                                onChangeText={text => focusNext(text, 0)}
                                onKeyPress={e => focusPrev(e.nativeEvent.key, 0)}
                            />
                            <TextInput
                                mode="flat"
                                selectionColor={Colors.primaryColor}
                                underlineColorAndroid="transparent"
                                textAlign='center'
                                maxLength={1}
                                keyboardType='numeric'
                                style={formScreenStyle.otpInputStyle}
                                ref={ref_input[1]}
                                onChangeText={text => focusNext(text, 1)}
                                onKeyPress={e => focusPrev(e.nativeEvent.key, 1)}
                            />
                            <TextInput
                                mode="flat"
                                selectionColor={Colors.primaryColor}
                                underlineColorAndroid="transparent"
                                textAlign='center'
                                maxLength={1}
                                keyboardType='numeric'
                                style={formScreenStyle.otpInputStyle}
                                ref={ref_input[2]}
                                onChangeText={text => focusNext(text, 2)}
                                onKeyPress={e => focusPrev(e.nativeEvent.key, 2)}
                            />
                            <TextInput
                                mode="flat"
                                selectionColor={Colors.primaryColor}
                                underlineColorAndroid="transparent"
                                textAlign='center'
                                maxLength={1}
                                keyboardType='numeric'
                                style={formScreenStyle.otpInputStyle}
                                ref={ref_input[3]}
                                onChangeText={text => focusNext(text, 3)}
                                onKeyPress={e => focusPrev(e.nativeEvent.key, 3)}
                            />

                        </View>
                    </ScrollView>
            </View>
        </SafeAreaView >
    )
}

export default OTP;

Answer 22

If you are using NativeBase as UI Components you can use this sample

<Item floatingLabel>
    <Label>Title</Label>
    <Input
        returnKeyType = {"next"}
        autoFocus = {true}
        onSubmitEditing={(event) => {
            this._inputDesc._root.focus(); 
        }} />
</Item>
<Item floatingLabel>
    <Label>Description</Label>
    <Input
        getRef={(c) => this._inputDesc = c}
        multiline={true} style={{height: 100}} />
        onSubmitEditing={(event) => { this._inputLink._root.focus(); }} />
</Item>

Answer 23

onSubmitEditing is called when returnKeyType key is pressed. when you switch to next input, to prevent the flashing (in a fast system can be ignored) blurOnSubmit={false}

import React, { ReactElement, useRef, useState } from "react";
import {  ScrollView, TextInput as NativeTextInput, TouchableOpacity } from "react-native";

    
export default function LoginScreen({ navigation, route }: LoginProps): ReactElement {
    const passwordRef = useRef<NativeTextInput | null>(null);
    const [form, setForm] = useState({
        username: "player1",
        password: "player1234"
    });
    const setFormInput = (key: keyof typeof form, value: string) =>
        setForm({ ...form, [key]: value });

    return (
            <ScrollView contentContainerStyle={styles.container}>
                <TextInput
                    value={form.username}
                    onChangeText={value => setFormInput("username", value)}
                    returnKeyType="next"
                    blurOnSubmit={false}
                    placeholder="Username"
                    onSubmitEditing={() => {
                        passwordRef.current?.focus();
                    }}
                />
                <TextInput
                    value={form.password}
                    onChangeText={value => setFormInput("password", value)}
                    ref={passwordRef}
                    returnKeyType="done"
                    secureTextEntry
                    placeholder="Password"
                />
            </ScrollView>
    );
}

Answer 24

Here a reagent solution for a input component that has a :focus property.

The field will be focused as long as this prop is set to true and will not have focus as long as this is false.

Unfortunately this component needs to have a :ref defined, I could not find an other way to call .focus() on it. I am happy about suggestions.

(defn focusable-input [init-attrs]
  (r/create-class
    {:display-name "focusable-input"
     :component-will-receive-props
       (fn [this new-argv]
         (let [ref-c (aget this "refs" (:ref init-attrs))
               focus (:focus (ru/extract-props new-argv))
               is-focused (.isFocused ref-c)]
           (if focus
             (when-not is-focused (.focus ref-c))
             (when is-focused (.blur ref-c)))))
     :reagent-render
       (fn [attrs]
         (let [init-focus (:focus init-attrs)
               auto-focus (or (:auto-focus attrs) init-focus)
               attrs (assoc attrs :auto-focus auto-focus)]
           [input attrs]))}))

https://gist.github.com/Knotschi/6f97efe89681ac149113ddec4c396cc5

Answer 25

If you've wrapped a React Native TextInput within a new component and you find that the ref is not working as expected to move to the next input when submitted, there are a few potential reasons and solutions you can explore:

1. Passing the ref properly:

Ensure that you are correctly passing the ref from the parent component to the wrapped TextInput component. If you are using functional components, you can use the useImperativeHandle hook to expose specific methods or properties of the child component.

2. Using forwardRef:

Ensure that you are using the forwardRef function when creating your custom component. This is necessary to forward the ref from the parent component to the child component.

3. Handling focus in the parent component:

If the ref is properly passed, ensure that you are using the focus() method on the next TextInput component in the parent component's handleSubmit function.

//ParentComponent.js
import React, { useRef } from 'react';
import CustomInput from './CustomInput';

const ParentComponent = () => {
   const inputRef1 = useRef(null);
   const inputRef2 = useRef(null);

  const handleSubmit = () => {
    // Do something with the input value
    inputRef2.current.focus();
  };

  return (
    <CustomInput ref={inputRef1} onSubmit={handleSubmit} />
  );
};

// CustomInput.js
import React, { forwardRef } from 'react';
import { TextInput, Button } from 'react-native';

const CustomInput = forwardRef(({ onSubmit }, ref) => {
  return (
    <>
      <TextInput ref={ref} /* other props */ />
      <Button title="Submit" onPress={onSubmit} />
    </>
  );
});

export default CustomInput;

worked for me after trying several solutions