Create a reusable React component to copy to clipboard

In web application development, the need to allow users to copy information quickly and easily is common. A React component that facilitates this functionality can significantly enhance the user experience. In this article, we will learn how to create a reusable component that will allow users to efficiently copy text to the clipboard.

What is a reusable component in React?

Reusable components are code blocks that can be used in different parts of an application without the need to rewrite the same code. By creating reusable components, developers can save time and increase code maintainability. In the case of copying to the clipboard, we will build a component that can be integrated anywhere in our React application.

Creating the component

To get started, a new component called CopyToClipboard should be created in the React project. This component will consist of a button that, when pressed, will copy the provided text to the user's clipboard.

Importing dependencies

Begin by importing React and the useState hook, along with the react-copy-to-clipboard package. This will facilitate the copying process.

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { CopyToClipboard } from 'react-copy-to-clipboard';

Defining the component

Next, define the CopyToClipboard component. It will receive two props: textToCopy, which is the text to be copied, and children, which allows for customizing the content displayed on the button.

const CopyToClipboardComponent = ({ textToCopy, children }) => {
    const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);

    return (
        <CopyToClipboard text={textToCopy} onCopy={() => setCopied(true)}>
            <button>{children}</button>
        </CopyToClipboard>
    );
};

Managing state

In the previous example, useState is used to manage the state of the copied text. Each time the user copies the text, the state is updated to true. This can be used to display a notification confirming to the user that the text has been copied.

Customizing the component

To allow developers to use this component in different ways, it is recommended to add a message that appears for a brief period after the copy. This can be done using a setTimeout to reset the state back to false after a few seconds.

const CopyToClipboardComponent = ({ textToCopy, children }) => {
    const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);

    const handleCopy = () => {
        setCopied(true);
        setTimeout(() => setCopied(false), 2000);
    };

    return (
        <CopyToClipboard text={textToCopy} onCopy={handleCopy}>
            <div>
                <button>{children}</button>
                {copied && <span>Copied!</span>}
            </div>
        </CopyToClipboard>
    );
};

Using the component

To use the new component in a React application, simply import the CopyToClipboardComponent and pass the text you wish to copy as a prop.

<CopyToClipboardComponent textToCopy="Text to copy">
    Copy text
</CopyToClipboardComponent>

Conclusion

Creating a reusable React component for copying to the clipboard is a straightforward and valuable task that can enhance the functionality of any application. By following these steps, developers can provide users with an effective and quick way to copy text.

I invite you to continue exploring more interesting topics on my blog, where you will find articles about web development and technology. See you next time!