useImperativeHandle was introduced in React 16.8 (February 2019) — the same version that brought us Hooks like useState, useEffect, and useRef.

The Usual Way: Parent → Props → Child

In React, the common flow of data is from parent to child through props. For example, if a parent wants a child to re-render, it passes new props. This pattern is clean, predictable, and keeps components isolated.

But sometimes, you need the reverse.

Imagine you have a <Modal> component, and the parent wants to open or close it imperatively — not by changing props, but by calling a method directly:

modalRef.current.open()

That’s where useImperativeHandle comes in.

The Role of useImperativeHandle

useImperativeHandle is a React Hook that lets you customize the instance value exposed when using ref on a child component. It’s used together with forwardRef.

Here’s the basic syntax:

useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
  methodYouExpose() {
    // some logic here
  }
}));

Before React Hooks existed, developers relied heavily on class components and the ref system to achieve imperative behavior. Let’s start there for comparison.

The Old Way (Before Hooks)

In class components, exposing imperative methods to parent components was quite straightforward. You could simply define public methods on the class and use ref to access them. And the parent component could control it directly using a ref.

<reactpack
  options="{
    'editorHeight': '500px'
  }"
>
```js /Modal.js active
// Modal.js (class-based)
import React from "react";

class Modal extends React.Component {
  state = { isOpen: false };

  open() {
    this.setState({ isOpen: true });
  }

  close() {
    this.setState({ isOpen: false });
  }

  render() {
    if (!this.state.isOpen) return null;

    return (
      <div className="modal">
        <div className="modal-content">
          {this.props.children}
          <button onClick={() => this.close()}>Close</button>
        </div>
      </div>
    );
  }
}

export default Modal;
```
```js /App.js
import React, { Component, createRef } from "react";
import Modal from "./Modal";

class App extends Component {
  // The parent component could control it directly using a ref:
  modalRef = createRef();

  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <button onClick={() => this.modalRef.current.open()}>Open Modal</button>
        <Modal ref={this.modalRef}>
          <h2>Hello from the modal!</h2>
        </Modal>
      </div>
    );
  }
}

export default App;
```
</reactpack>

This approach worked well in the class era. But with the shift to function components and Hooks, this pattern was no longer directly possible — because function components don’t have instances like classes do. That’s exactly why useImperativeHandle was introduced.

The Modern Way: useImperativeHandle with Hooks

useImperativeHandle allows function components to expose limited imperative methods to their parent via a ref, similar to how class instances worked.

Let’s recreate the same modal example using modern React.

<reactpack
  options="{
    'editorHeight': '500px'
  }"
>
```js /Modal.js active
import React, { useState, useImperativeHandle, forwardRef } from "react";

const Modal = forwardRef((props, ref) => {
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);

  useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
    open() {
      setIsOpen(true);
    },
    close() {
      setIsOpen(false);
    }
  }));

  if (!isOpen) return null;

  return (
    <div className="modal">
      <div className="modal-content">
        {props.children}
        <button onClick={() => setIsOpen(false)}>Close</button>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
});

export default Modal;
```
```js /App.js
import React, { useRef } from "react";
import Modal from "./Modal";

function App() {
  const modalRef = useRef();

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={() => modalRef.current.open()}>Open Modal</button>
      <Modal ref={modalRef}>
        <h2>Hello from the modal!</h2>
      </Modal>
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;
```
</reactpack>

Now, the parent can still call modalRef.current.open() or modalRef.current.close(), just like before — but within a functional component world.

Why Not Just Use Props?

You might wonder: “Can’t I just use an isOpen prop and handle it declaratively?”

You absolutely can — and in most cases, you should. The declarative pattern keeps data flow predictable and easier to debug.

However, there are valid cases for imperative handles:

When integrating with non-React code (like a third-party chart, map, or video player library).
When the child manages complex internal state that shouldn’t leak to the parent.
When you need to expose specific utility methods like focus(), scrollToTop(), or reset().

useImperativeHandle lets you provide a controlled API surface for such cases.

How It Works Under the Hood

React’s forwardRef passes a ref from the parent down to the child.
useImperativeHandle tells React what value the parent’s ref.current should point to.

For example:

useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
  open: () => setIsOpen(true),
  close: () => setIsOpen(false)
}));

Here, the parent’s ref.current will be an object with two methods: open and close.

Without useImperativeHandle, the ref would just point to the DOM node or null (for function components).

When to Avoid It

useImperativeHandle is powerful, but it can also make components harder to test and reason about.
If you find yourself using it too often, it might be a sign that your component boundaries are too tightly coupled.

Prefer declarative props whenever possible. Save useImperativeHandle for those rare cases where you truly need it.

What I Learned

When I first explored useImperativeHandle, I saw it as a workaround — a way to “break into” a child component.
But over time, I realized it’s actually a well-defined bridge between declarative and imperative logic.

It’s not about breaking React’s philosophy, but about extending it thoughtfully — giving a parent limited, intentional control over a child when necessary.

Key Takeaways

React version: useImperativeHandle has been available since React 16.8 (2019).
Purpose: Customize what a ref exposes to the parent component.
Use cases: Third-party integrations, complex UI logic, or exposing controlled child methods.
Best practice: Use declarative props first — resort to useImperativeHandle only when truly needed.

Closing Thoughts

React’s declarative nature is one of its greatest strengths, but the real world is rarely purely declarative.
Sometimes you need to handle things imperatively — focusing an input, triggering a modal, or resetting a form.

useImperativeHandle gives you that flexibility without compromising component boundaries.
Used sparingly and intentionally, it’s a small but powerful tool to make your components more adaptable and expressive.

Understanding `useImperativeHandle` in `React`: When and Why You Might Need It

A reflection of what I learned while exploring useImperativeHandle: what it does, when it’s useful, and how to use it without breaking React’s declarative nature.

useImperativeHandle in React