How to correctly call useFetch function? - reactjs

Question

I've successfully implemented a useFetch function to call an API Endpoint. It works perfectly if I add code like this to the root of a functional React component like this:
const [{ data, isLoading, isError }] = useFetch(
'http://some_api_endpoint_path'
);
export const useFetch = (url) => {
const [data, setData] = useState();
const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(false);
const [isError, setIsError] = useState(false);
useEffect(() => {
const fetchData = async () => {
setIsError(false);
setIsLoading(true);
try {
const response = await axios.get(url);
setData(response.data);
} catch (error) {
setIsError(true);
}
setIsLoading(false);
};
fetchData();
}, [url]);
return [{ data, isLoading, isError }];
};
But let's say I want to check if a newly entered username exists, say upon the firing of an onBlur event of an input element. When I've tried implementing this, I get this error:
React Hook "useFetch" is called in function "handleBlur" which is neither a React function component or a custom React Hook function react-hooks/rules-of-hooks
I even tried this approach:
const [isChanged, setIsChanged] = useState(false);
useEffect(() => {
useFetch(
'http://some_api_endpoint_path'
);
}, [isChanged]);
But got the same error.
Then I tried this simplified version, which doesn't do anything useful but I was testing the React Hooks Rules:
useEffect(() => {
useFetch(
'http://some_api_endpoint_path'
);
}, []);
And still I got the same error.
In these last 2 cases especially, I feel that I am following the Rules of Hooks but apparently not!
What is the correct way to call useFetch in such a situation?

Answer 1

I suppose you call useFetch this way, right?
const onBlur = () => {
const [{ data, isLoading, isError }] = useFetch(
'http://some_api_endpoint_path'
);
...
}
If true, this is wrong. Check this link out:
🔴 Do not call in event handlers.
You may implement this way:
// Pass common initial for all fetches.
export const useFetch = (awsConfig, apiRoot, apiPathDefault) => {
const [data, setData] = useState();
const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(false);
const [isError, setIsError] = useState(false);
// Just pass the variables that changes in each new fetch requisition
const fetchData = async (apiPath) => {
setIsError(false);
setIsLoading(true);
try {
const response = await axios.get(apiRoot + apiPath);
setData(response.data);
} catch (error) {
setIsError(true);
}
setIsLoading(false);
};
useEffect(() => {
fetchData(apiRoot + apiPathDefault);
}, [awsConfig, apiRoot, apiPathDefault]);
return [{ data, isLoading, isError }, fetchData];
};
And whenever you want to fetch again, you just call fetchData:
const [{ data, isLoading, isError }, fetchData] = useFetch(API_ROOT(), appStore.awsConfig, defaultPath);
const onBlur = () => {
fetchData(newPath);
...
}
I've used the same principle that Apollo team used when created useLazyQuey (open this link and search for useLazyQuery, please). Also, note that I pass all common and immutable variables when I call the hooks and pass just the mutable ones in the single fetch.