connect.js explained

connect.js

// connect() is a function that injects Redux-related props into your component.
// You can inject data and callbacks that change that data by dispatching actions.
function connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps) {
  // It lets us inject component as the last step so people can use it as a decorator.
  // Generally you don't need to worry about it.
  return function (WrappedComponent) {
    // It returns a component
    return class extends React.Component {
      render() {
        return (
          // that renders your component
          <WrappedComponent
            {/* with its props  */}
            {...this.props}
            {/* and additional props calculated from Redux store */}
            {...mapStateToProps(store.getState(), this.props)}
            {...mapDispatchToProps(store.dispatch, this.props)}
          />
        )
      }
      
      componentDidMount() {
        // it remembers to subscribe to the store so it doesn't miss updates
        this.unsubscribe = store.subscribe(this.handleChange.bind(this))
      }
      
      componentWillUnmount() {
        // and unsubscribe later
        this.unsubscribe()
      }
    
      handleChange() {
        // and whenever the store state changes, it re-renders.
        this.forceUpdate()
      }
    }
  }
}

// This is not the real implementation but a mental model.
// It skips the question of where we get the "store" from (answer: <Provider> puts it in React context)
// and it skips any performance optimizations (real connect() makes sure we don't re-render in vain).

// The purpose of connect() is that you don't have to think about
// subscribing to the store or perf optimizations yourself, and
// instead you can specify how to get props based on Redux store state:

const ConnectedCounter = connect(
  // Given Redux state, return props
  state => ({
    value: state.counter,
  }),
  // Given Redux dispatch, return callback props
  dispatch => ({
    onIncrement() {
      dispatch({ type: 'INCREMENT' })
    }
  })
)(Counter)

Is it accurate to say that connect implements some variant of the observer pattern? If yes or no (or kinda), why?

@ezmiller i would say - connect() is an observer for sure. Why? Go to the internet

I just came here to see how a HOC works in practical. Thanks for this explaination.

@gaearon don't you think the subscription logic should be in the constructor and not componentDidMount? If I am dispatching an action from WrappedComponent's componentDidMount. We won't see the updated state (it wont re render) in WrappedComponent, since componentDidMount of the WrappedComponent will run first before the subscription happens in componentDidMount inside connect()

Very clear explanation! 👍

Thank You That was a clear explanation !!

Thanks, this mental model helping me a lot while learning react with redux :)

thanks @gaearon

Thank you 🚀🚀🚀

Thank you so much. It was so helpful.

thanks!