react.dev/docs/ref-02-component-api.md

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ReactComponent

Component classses created by createClass() return instances of ReactComponent when called. Most of the time when you're using React you're either creating or consuming these component objects.

getDOMNode

DOMElement getDOMNode()

If this component has been mounted into the DOM, this returns the corresponding native browser DOM element. This method is useful for reading values out of the DOM, such as form field values and performing DOM measurements.

setProps

setProps(object nextProps)

When you're integrating with an external JavaScript application you may want to signal a change to a React component rendered with renderComponent(). Simply call setProps() to change its properties and trigger a re-render.

Note:

This method can only be called on a root-level component. That is, it's only available on the component passed directly to renderComponent() and none of its children. If you're inclined to use setProps() on a child component, instead take advantage of reactive updates and pass the new prop to the child component when it's created in render().

replaceProps

replaceProps(object nextProps)

Like setProps() but deletes any pre-existing props instead of merging the two objects.

transferPropsTo

ReactComponent transferPropsTo(ReactComponent targetComponent)

Transfer properties from this component to a target component that have not already been set on the target component. After the props are updated, targetComponent is returned as a convenience. This function is useful when creating simple HTML-like components:

var Avatar = React.createClass({
  render: function() {
    return this.transferPropsTo(
      <img src={"/avatars/" + this.props.userId + ".png"} userId={null} />
    );
  }
});

// <AvatarImage userId={17} width={200} height={200} />

Properties that are specified directly on the target component instance (such as src and userId in the above example) will not be overwritten by transferPropsTo.

Note:

Use transferPropsTo with caution; it encourages tight coupling and makes it easy to accidentally introduce implicit dependencies between components. When in doubt, it's safer to explicitly copy the properties that you need onto the child component.

setState

setState(object nextState[, function callback])

Merges nextState with the current state. This is the primary method you use to trigger UI updates from event handlers and server request callbacks. In addition, you can supply an optional callback function that is executed once setState is completed.

Notes:

NEVER mutate this.state directly, as calling setState() afterwards may replace the mutation you made. Treat this.state as if it were immutable.

setState() does not immediately mutate this.state but creates a pending state transition. Accessing this.state after calling this method can potentially return the existing value.

There is no guarantee of synchronous operation of calls to setState and calls may be batched for performance gains.

replaceState

replaceState(object nextState[, function callback])

Like setState() but deletes any pre-existing state keys that are not in nextState.

forceUpdate()

forceUpdate([function callback])

If your render() method reads from something other than this.props or this.state, you'll need to tell React when it needs to re-run render() by calling forceUpdate(). You'll also need to call forceUpdate() if you mutate this.state directly.

Calling forceUpdate() will cause render() to be called on the component and its children, but React will still only update the DOM if the markup changes.

Normally you should try to avoid all uses of forceUpdate() and only read from this.props and this.state in render(). This makes your application much simpler and more efficient.