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Clarify ref callback cleanup behavior in common ref docs #8579

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aurorascharff merged 2 commits into from
Nov 8, 2026
Merged

Clarify ref callback cleanup behavior in common ref docs #8579

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90b9f6e
Clarify ref callback cleanup vs null behavior
smg99 Aug 5, 2026
4928162
docs: incorporate review feedback on ref callback cleanup
smg99 Nov 8, 2026
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4 changes: 2 additions & 2 deletions src/content/reference/react-dom/components/common.md
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Expand Up @@ -257,9 +257,9 @@ Instead of a ref object (like the one returned by [`useRef`](/reference/react/us

[See an example of using the `ref` callback.](/learn/manipulating-the-dom-with-refs#how-to-manage-a-list-of-refs-using-a-ref-callback)

When the `<div>` DOM node is added to the screen, React will call your `ref` callback with the DOM `node` as the argument. When that `<div>` DOM node is removed, React will call your the cleanup function returned from the callback.
When the `<div>` DOM node is added to the screen, React will call your `ref` callback with the DOM `node` as the argument. When that `<div>` DOM node is removed, React will call the cleanup function returned from the callback.

React will also call your `ref` callback whenever you pass a *different* `ref` callback. In the above example, `(node) => { ... }` is a different function on every render. When your component re-renders, the *previous* function will be called with `null` as the argument, and the *next* function will be called with the DOM node.
React will also call your `ref` callback whenever you pass a *different* `ref` callback. In the above example, `(node) => { ... }` is a different function on every render. When your component re-renders, the cleanup function returned by the *previous* function will be called, and the *next* function will be called with the DOM node. If no cleanup function is returned, the *previous* function will be called with `null` as the argument instead.

#### Parameters {/*ref-callback-parameters*/}

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