5 Ways To Set Default Values In React Hook Form

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As web development continues to evolve, managing forms in applications has become a crucial aspect of providing a seamless user experience. React Hook Form is a popular library used for managing forms in React applications, simplifying the process of handling forms by reducing the amount of code needed and improving performance.

One of the common challenges developers face when working with forms is setting default values. Default values can enhance the user experience by pre-populating fields with data, making it easier for users to fill out forms. In this article, we will explore five ways to set default values in React Hook Form.

Understanding React Hook Form

Before we dive into setting default values, it's essential to understand how React Hook Form works. React Hook Form is a library that simplifies the process of handling forms in React by providing a set of hooks that can be used to manage form data, validation, and submission.

The library provides two main hooks: useForm and useFieldArray. The useForm hook is used to create a form instance, while the useFieldArray hook is used to manage arrays of fields.

Method 1: Using the `defaultValues` Option

One of the simplest ways to set default values in React Hook Form is by using the defaultValues option. This option can be passed to the useForm hook when creating a form instance.

Here's an example:

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

function MyForm() {
  const { register, handleSubmit } = useForm({
    defaultValues: {
      name: 'John Doe',
      email: 'john.doe@example.com',
    },
  });

  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    // Submit the form data
  };

  return (
    

      
      
      Submit
    
  );
}

In this example, the defaultValues option is used to set the default values for the name and email fields.

Method 2: Using the `setValue` Method

Another way to set default values in React Hook Form is by using the setValue method. This method can be used to set the value of a field programmatically.

Here's an example:

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

function MyForm() {
  const { register, setValue, handleSubmit } = useForm();

  setValue('name', 'John Doe');
  setValue('email', 'john.doe@example.com');

  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    // Submit the form data
  };

  return (
    

      
      
      Submit
    
  );
}

In this example, the setValue method is used to set the default values for the name and email fields.

Method 3: Using the `useForm` Hook with an Object

You can also set default values in React Hook Form by passing an object to the useForm hook. This object should contain the default values for each field.

Here's an example:

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

function MyForm() {
  const { register, handleSubmit } = useForm({
    name: 'John Doe',
    email: 'john.doe@example.com',
  });

  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    // Submit the form data
  };

  return (
    

      
      
      Submit
    
  );
}

In this example, the useForm hook is passed an object with the default values for the name and email fields.

Method 4: Using the `useForm` Hook with a Function

You can also set default values in React Hook Form by passing a function to the useForm hook. This function should return an object with the default values for each field.

Here's an example:

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

function MyForm() {
  const { register, handleSubmit } = useForm(() => ({
    name: 'John Doe',
    email: 'john.doe@example.com',
  }));

  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    // Submit the form data
  };

  return (
    

      
      
      Submit
    
  );
}

In this example, the useForm hook is passed a function that returns an object with the default values for the name and email fields.

Method 5: Using the `useForm` Hook with a Promise

Finally, you can set default values in React Hook Form by passing a promise to the useForm hook. This promise should resolve to an object with the default values for each field.

Here's an example:

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

function MyForm() {
  const { register, handleSubmit } = useForm(
    new Promise((resolve) => {
      resolve({
        name: 'John Doe',
        email: 'john.doe@example.com',
      });
    })
  );

  const onSubmit = async (data) => {
    // Submit the form data
  };

  return (
    

      
      
      Submit
    
  );
}

In this example, the useForm hook is passed a promise that resolves to an object with the default values for the name and email fields.

In conclusion, setting default values in React Hook Form can be achieved through various methods, including using the defaultValues option, the setValue method, and passing an object or function to the useForm hook. By understanding these methods, you can create more efficient and user-friendly forms in your React applications. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask in the comments section below.