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javascriptreactjsreact-context

React/React Context API: Wait for context values when using useEffect() hook


I am developing a web app using React and here is what I am trying to do:

  1. In the highest-order component, check whether the user is logged in and if logged in, update 'userinfo' Context value.
  2. In Profile.js, get the 'userinfo' Context value.
  3. Check whether 'userinfo' is null or not, and call different APIs accordingly.

I wrote the below code. The problem is that there is apparently a time lag for the userinfo context value to be delivered to the component. So when using useEffect() hook, Profile.js will render twice when userinfo is not null.

Is there a way to fix this code so that it waits for 'userinfo' variable, and then call relevant APIs accordingly, not before?

Below is the code. Any advice? Thanks a lot in advance!

import React, {useEffect, useContext} from 'react';
import Userinfo from "../context/Userinfo";


function Profile(props) {

   const {userinfo, setuserinfo}=useContext(Userinfo);

   useEffect(()=>{      
       ((userinfo==null)?
       /*API call A (When user is not logged in) */ :
       /*API call B (When user is logged in) */
       )},[userinfo])  

   return (
       (userinfo==null)?
       /*Elements to render when user is not logged in) */ :
       /*Elements to render when user is  logged in) */
   );
}

export default Profile;

Solution

  • The best solution here is to add a loading state in the context provider which is reset once the value is updated.

    function Profile(props) {
    
       const {userinfo, loading, setuserinfo}=useContext(Userinfo);
    
       useEffect(()=>{      
           if(!loading) {
                ((userinfo==null)?
                 /*API call A (When user is not logged in) */ :
                /*API call B (When user is logged in) */
                )
           }
        )},[loading, userinfo])  
    
       if(loading) return <Loader />
       return (
           (userinfo==null)?
           /*Elements to render when user is not logged in) */ :
           /*Elements to render when user is  logged in) */
       );
    }