How to Invalidate initialData in React Query/TanStack Query

Discover effective methods to invalidate `initialData` in React Query/TanStack Query and ensure your application reflects the latest data.
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How to Invalidate initialData in React Query/TanStack Query

If you're working with data in your React application, you may have encountered the need to update or invalidate data that has been cached. Specifically, when using the useQuery and useInfiniteQuery hooks from TanStack Query (the latest name of React Query), you might find yourself in a situation where the initial data doesn't update as intended after invalidation. In this guide, we'll explore how to address this challenge effectively.

Understanding the Problem

When you develop applications that depend on external data sources, managing state and ensuring that your UI reflects the latest data is critical. The initialData parameter in the useQuery hook is designed to provide initial state to your component. However, many developers face problems when trying to invalidate and refresh that data through actions like re-fetching.

The Scenario

In the scenario described, you have a component that uses useInfiniteQuery to fetch a list of posts. Each post is displayed in a child component that uses useQuery to fetch additional details about the post. Here’s a simplified version of the code in question:

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

However, the initialData set in the Post component does not automatically refresh after the cache is invalidated. This can lead to displaying stale data in your UI.

The Solution

To solve this issue, it is important to understand the behavior of initialData in TanStack Query. The initialData is only used on the very first render to fill the cache; once the data is cached, invalidating queries does not affect that initialData.

Key Steps to Refresh Data

Here are steps to ensure that your initialData is refreshed when invalidating:

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

Implementation Example

Here’s how you can implement it in your components:

Post List Component

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

Post Component

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

Conclusion

With these tips, you can confidently manage and manipulate your cached data in React applications, keeping your UI responsive and up-to-date. Happy coding!