What are some use cases for React Error Boundaries?

What are some use cases for React Error Boundaries?

React Error Boundaries are used to catch JavaScript errors in components, preventing crashes. Common use cases include handling errors in UI components, logging errors for monitoring, and displaying fallback UI.

Can you give me an example of how to implement an Error Boundary?

Sure! You can create an Error Boundary by defining a class component that implements componentDidCatch and getDerivedStateFromError. Here's a simple example:

class ErrorBoundary extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = { hasError: false };
  }

  static getDerivedStateFromError(error) {
    return { hasError: true };
  }

  componentDidCatch(error, info) {
    // Log the error to an error reporting service
  }

  render() {
    if (this.state.hasError) {
      return <h1>Something went wrong.</h1>;
    }
    return this.props.children;
  }
}

You can wrap any component with ErrorBoundary to catch errors.

What happens if an error occurs in a nested component?

If an error occurs in a nested component wrapped by an Error Boundary, the Error Boundary will catch the error and render the fallback UI defined in its render method. This prevents the entire application from crashing.

Are there any limitations to using Error Boundaries?

Yes, Error Boundaries do not catch errors for event handlers, asynchronous code, or errors thrown in the Error Boundary itself. They only catch errors in the lifecycle methods and render methods of their child components.