KITFORMA · EDITORIAL ANSWER
How do I expose focus without exposing an entire React input DOM node?
KitForma editorial guide. Use useImperativeHandle to expose a small handle such as {focus: () => inputRef.current?.focus()} while keeping the underlying node in a private ref.
Step-by-step answer
Use useImperativeHandle to expose a small handle such as
{focus: () => inputRef.current?.focus()} while keeping the underlying node in a private ref. In React 18 forward the incoming ref; in React 19 receive it according to the ref-prop API. Include dependencies used by the exposed methods. Verify the parent can focus after mounting and handles a null ref after removal; avoid exposing internal state mutations unnecessarily.Sources and verification
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