connectField vs useField

[simplecommerce]

Hi I had a quick question.

I know that useField is a hook version of connectField, but in this case, would there be a reason to still use connectField vs useField for newer projects going in the future?

I tested both in my current project and they do the same, I am just trying to find out if I would have a reason to keep using connectField instead of useField from now on.

Thanks!

[radekmie]

Hi @simplecommerce! That's a very good question! (It's actually too good and you shouldn't have to ask it in the first place... We'll add it to the docs later.)

From the first version of uniforms, we've supported the connectField higher order component. For a long time (pre-v3), it created a class component that utilized the old React Context API and provided the wrapped component with all uniforms-related props.

Starting in v3, we introduced the useField hook. The main difference is that it utilizes the new React Context API, which has some significant (for us) consequences. The main one is that to change the childrens' context, you have to render a Provider component. (You can read more about it in #405).

Starting in v3, connectField no longer creates a class component. It creates a function component that uses the useHook, and renders the Provider component if needed (check the implementation). So, to sum up, the difference is that connectField may render the Provider component, so the difference is relevant only to fields that may contain other fields, like NestField or ListField.

[simplecommerce]

@radekmie Thanks for explaining, so if I understand correctly, if I use the useField from now on, I shouldn't have any reasons to use the connectField anymore correct? Or are there any specific cases/scenarios where I could need to use connectField because useField wouldn't work? I can't think of any.

[radekmie]

As long as you're creating a field that has no nested fields, useField will be more than enough. But if you'll be creating a field with nested ones (e.g., an entire custom theme), then connectField it is.

[simplecommerce]

@radekmie Thank you!