[Hooks] - callbacks in useState hook examples

[dstudzinski]

I would like to discuss about using callbacks to create new state which bases on current state in documentation for useState hook.
Current examples can be confusing for new developers which are not very familiar with js.
It would be easier for new developers to learn the rule like newer use value from this.state (for setState) or take current state value from scope (for hooks) to create new state. This simple rule leads to smaller amount of bugs.

So new developers can take this example from https://reactjs.org/docs/hooks-intro.html

import { useState } from 'react';

function Example() {
  // Declare a new state variable, which we'll call "count"
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>You clicked {count} times</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
        Click me
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

and convert to something like this:

import { useState } from 'react';

function Example() {
  // Declare a new state variable, which we'll call "count"
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  const handleClick = () => {
    setCount(count + 1);
    setCount(count + 1);
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <p>You clicked {count} times</p>
      <button onClick={handleClick}>
        Click me
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

with assumption that it will increment by 2 but it does not (it's based on observation with junior developers).

Shouldn't we change first example (and all 'counter' based examples in docs) to something like this?

import { useState } from 'react';

function Example() {
  // Declare a new state variable, which we'll call "count"
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>You clicked {count} times</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(currentValue => currentValue + 1)}>
        Click me
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

and create new example to show 'standard' way to set state (example where new state is not based on current one).
Or maybe we should just say it's how JS (closures) works and left examples as is?
What's your opinion? I can create PR with changes but I'm not sure which path to choose. On the one hand it's how JS works but on the other hand I see it's confusing.

[plh97]

maybe u need to read the react websites tutorial about react~v16.8--hook again?

[plh97]

i don't think so this can be an issue

[brunolm]

Well, from my understanding the example on the documentation is wrong. If you want to set the state based on an existing value in the state you have to use callbacks and the documentation doesn't.

The attempt to simplify it is causing harm by teaching people wrong practices, isn't it?