Solving the Async use-state infinite re-rendering Issue in React JS

Discover how to fix the common `infinite re-render` issue in React JS when interacting with an API in this comprehensive guide.
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Solving the Async use-state infinite re-rendering Issue in React JS

Creating a React app that interacts with APIs can often lead to a range of challenges, one of which is managing state effectively. A common issue that developers encounter is the infinite re-rendering caused by improper handling of useState and useEffect. In this post, we'll dive into a typical scenario that leads to this problem and how to resolve it efficiently.

Understanding the Problem

In the scenario discussed, a developer is attempting to fetch data from an API that provides information about Google Maps pins based on user-selected date intervals. The issue arises when the page enters an infinite loop of re-rendering, primarily due to a misunderstanding of the dependency array in the useEffect hook.

What Causes Infinite Re-rendering?

Incorrect Dependencies: When you include state variables, such as porra (in our case), in the dependency array of useEffect, it triggers the effect every time that variable updates, causing the component to re-render infinitely.

State Updates: Each time the effect runs and calls setPorra, it updates the porra state, which again triggers the useEffect, leading to an endless cycle.

Step-by-step Solution

Identify the Current Implementation

Here's the current implementation causing the issue:

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

Correcting the Code

To resolve the infinite re-rendering issue, you need to adjust the dependency array to monitor only the necessary state variables. Follow these steps:

Modify the Dependencies:
Remove porra from the dependency array and instead include the state variables that trigger the API call, like startDate and startDate2.

Update the useEffect Hook:
Here’s the revised implementation of the useEffect hook:

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

Testing the Solution

After making these changes, test the implementation by selecting different date ranges. You should observe that the pins are successfully fetched and displayed without any infinite rendering issues interfering with the user experience or application performance.

Conclusion

Infinite re-rendering in React applications can be a thorny issue, especially when dealing with asynchronous data from APIs. By understanding the dependency array in useEffect and correctly managing state updates, you can effectively troubleshoot and resolve issues. Remember, keeping your dependency arrays clean and utilizing relevant state variables will lead to a smoother experience both for you as a developer and for your end users.

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