Using preventDefault and stopPropagation Effectively in React

Описание: Learn how to manage multiple `onClick` events in React with `preventDefault` and `stopPropagation` so functions can operate independently without interference.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68489430/ asked by the user 'aloredo' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9370797/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68489573/ provided by the user 'Alireza Ahmadi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11359076/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Managing Multiple OnClick Events in React: A Guide to preventDefault and stopPropagation

When working with React, JavaScript interactions are an essential element. Sometimes you may want multiple onClick functionalities within a single component, but you want them to operate independently. This is a common scenario, such as when having a link inside a clickable card component, where both the card and the link inside it have distinct actions but interfere with each other. Today, we will explore how to achieve this functionality using preventDefault and stopPropagation. Let's dive in!

The Situation

Imagine you have a Card component that, when clicked, triggers a function called goPage(), but you also have a link inside the card that should execute a different function, downloadPage(), when clicked. The issue you face is that the click on the link inadvertently triggers the card’s click event as well, causing both functions to run. What you want is:

Card Click: Only calls goPage().

Link Click: Only calls downloadPage().

Is it possible to accomplish this? Yes, and we’ll show you how.

The Solution

To prevent the click event from bubbling up the DOM and triggering the parent element's click event, we can employ the stopPropagation() method. Below are the steps to implement this effectively in your React component.

Step 1: Set Up Your Functions

Begin by defining two distinct functions that you want to call on click events.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Build Your Component Structure

You will have a card that is clickable and a link inside that should also be clickable without affecting the card's click handler.

Example Code

Here’s a simplified layout of the component:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Explanation of the Code

onClick for the Card: The card has an onClick event that triggers goPage() and includes e.stopPropagation(). This prevents any click events from bubbling up to parent elements, thus isolating the card's functionality.

onClick for the Link: The link has its own onClick event that first calls .preventDefault() to stop the default behavior of the link (navigation), followed by calling downloadPage(), and finally includes e.stopPropagation() to ensure it does not trigger the card’s click event.

Conclusion

By implementing these methods, you ensure that both the card and the link have independently functioning click behaviors. The preventDefault() stops the link from acting as a regular hyperlink, and the stopPropagation() method prevents the event from bubbling up to its parent, allowing for clean and isolated functionality.

This approach not only enhances user experience by providing clarity in interactions but also helps maintain organized code for more complex components. Happy coding!