How to access a static function from a component instance in react?

Question

I have a component with a number of static functions defined for it(through the statics property in the component definition). I need to access one of these static functions in the lifecycle method componentDidMount. I tried the following

this object has a statics property, but that seems to be null always
this object also has a _owner, which in turn has a statics property. Again, that is always null

Then I tried this.constructor.<static_function>. This worked for me. I just wanted to know whether this is the right way to access static functions defined for a component or is there something else that I am unaware of.

Alexandre Kirszenberg · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-19 14:37:00Z

7

Accessing your static methods and properties via this.constructor is fine. You can also access them via ComponentClass.<static>.

answered Mar 19, 2015 at 14:37

Alexandre Kirszenberg

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2 Comments

Green Over a year ago

What do you mean via this.constructor. How is that?

Iain Collins Over a year ago

@Green e.g. You can use this.constructor.myStaticFunction() to access a function declared in your component with static myStaticFunction() { }.

Breno Ferreira · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-19 15:10:33Z

6

Why not define the functions in the outer scope, and just export them in the statics property. Something like this:

var foo = function() { ... }
var bar = function() { ... }

var MyComponent = React.createClass({
  statics: {
    foo: foo,
    bar: bar
  }
});

Now the static functions are accessible anywhere in the scope of the component code.

answered Mar 19, 2015 at 15:10

Breno Ferreira

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1 Comment

Mike Driver Over a year ago

I usually use this method, perhaps there is better? I don't know - but this works just fine. Naturally you want to make sure that your component is scoped correctly so you don't leak, but that should be occuring anyway!

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