Simplifying Form Handling with Remix
A Fresh Approach to Forms
When it comes to handling forms in React, we’re often bogged down by the complexities of setting up state, deciding between controlled and uncontrolled variables, and dealing with onChange, onBlur, and onSubmit events. But what if we could simplify the process and take a step back to the traditional way of handling forms, reminiscent of languages like PHP? That’s exactly what Remix offers.
Remix’s Unique Approach
Remix provides functions called action and loader, which enable server-side operations and access to form data. This means we no longer need to serve JavaScript to the frontend to submit a form, reducing the browser’s load and keeping things simple. Unlike other frameworks, we don’t need to serve JavaScript to make a fetch or axios call, making life easier for developers.
The Custom Form Component
Remix’s custom Form component works identically to the native HTML <form> element, but with a twist. We don’t need to set up onChange, onSubmit, or onClick event handlers, nor do we need to set up state for our forms. Instead, we can access form data from the web’s formData() API. The Form component is Remix-aware and enhanced, allowing components to add a better user experience to the page as the form is submitted and returns with data.
Setting Up a Form in Remix
So, what does a basic form look like in Remix? Let’s take a look:
We use Remix’s Form component and the useActionData Hook, which we’ll use later on. When a user submits a form, Remix automatically makes a POST request containing the form data to the server using the fetch API.
Validating Forms in Remix
Validating forms is a crucial part of the process. We can set up custom validation logic for our form fields, checking if they’re empty or meet certain requirements. If they fail these checks, we return error messages. Let’s see how it’s done:
Taking it to the Next Level with Remix Validated Form
While custom validation works, it doesn’t fully cater to all possible form validation needs. That’s where Remix Validated Form (RVF) comes in. RVF provides a Form component and utilities used to validate Remix forms, supporting various validation libraries like Yup and Zod. Let’s see how to use RVF to take our form validation to the next level:
With RVF, we can create a custom Input component, a custom SubmitBtn component, and a validator that RVF will use in the background to validate the form fields. Finally, we can put it all together to create a sign-up form that’s both user-friendly and secure.
Get Started with Remix Today
In this article, we’ve explored a new way of managing forms on the web, one that’s both simple and powerful. We’ve seen how Remix’s approach differs from React when it comes to form handling, and how to set up custom validation and use Remix Validated Form to take our forms to the next level. So why not give Remix a try and see how it can simplify your form handling needs?