Lodash debounce with React Input

Michael Kaufman picture Michael Kaufman · Mar 29, 2016 · Viewed 62.8k times · Source

I'm trying to add debouncing with lodash to a search function, called from an input onChange event. The code below generates a type error 'function is expected', which I understand because lodash is expecting a function. What is the right way to do this and can it be done all inline? I have tried nearly every example thus far on SO to no avail.

search(e){
 let str = e.target.value;
 debounce(this.props.relay.setVariables({ query: str }), 500);
},

Answer

Jeff Wooden picture Jeff Wooden · Mar 29, 2016

The debounce function can be passed inline in the JSX or set directly as a class method as seen here:

search: _.debounce(function(e) {
  console.log('Debounced Event:', e);
}, 1000)

Fiddle: https://jsfiddle.net/woodenconsulting/69z2wepo/36453/

If you're using es2015+ you can define your debounce method directly, in your constructor or in a lifecycle method like componentWillMount.

Examples:

class DebounceSamples extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);

    // Method defined in constructor, alternatively could be in another lifecycle method
    // like componentWillMount
    this.search = _.debounce(e => {
      console.log('Debounced Event:', e);
    }, 1000);
  }

  // Define the method directly in your class
  search = _.debounce((e) => {
    console.log('Debounced Event:', e);
  }, 1000)
}