useForm

We will show the basic usage of useForm by adding an editing form.

import { Edit, useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";
import { Form, Input, Select } from "antd";

export const PostEdit: React.FC = () => {
  const { formProps, saveButtonProps } = useForm<IPost>();

  return (
    <Edit saveButtonProps={saveButtonProps}>
      <Form {...formProps} layout="vertical">
        <Form.Item label="Title" name="title">
          <Input />
        </Form.Item>
        <Form.Item label="Status" name="status">
          <Select
            options={[
              {
                label: "Published",
                value: "published",
              },
              {
                label: "Draft",
                value: "draft",
              },
              {
                label: "Rejected",
                value: "rejected",
              },
            ]}
          />
        </Form.Item>
      </Form>
    </Edit>
  );
};

interface IPost {
  id: number;
  title: string;
  status: "published" | "draft" | "rejected";
}

formProps includes all necessary values to manage Ant Design Form components.

In the example if you navigate to /posts/edit/1234 it will manage the data of the post with id of 1234 in an editing context. See the action section below on how useForm determines this is an editing context.

Since this is an edit form it will fill the form with the data of the post with the id of 1234 and then the form will be ready to edit further and submit the changes.

Submit functionality is provided by saveButtonProps which includes all of the necessary props for a button to submit a form including the automatically updating loading states.

useForm accepts type parameters for the record in use and for the response type of the mutation. IPost in the example represents the record to edit. It is also used as the default type for mutation response.

If you want to show a form in a modal or drawer where necessary route params might not be there you can use the useModalForm or the useDrawerForm hook.

For more detailed usage examples, refer to the Ant Design Form documentation.

useForm can handle edit, create and clone actions.

By default, it determines the action from route. The action is inferred by matching the resource's action path with the current route.

It can be overridden by passing the action prop where it isn't possible to determine the action from the route (e.g. when using form in a modal or using a custom route).

import React from "react";

import { Create, useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";
import { Form, Input } from "antd";

interface IPost {
  id: number;
  title: string;
  content: string;
}

const PostCreatePage: React.FC = () => {
  const { formProps, saveButtonProps } = useForm<IPost>();

  return (
    <Create saveButtonProps={saveButtonProps}>
      <Form {...formProps} layout="vertical">
        <Form.Item
          label="Title"
          name="title"
          rules={[
            {
              required: true,
            },
          ]}
        >
          <Input />
        </Form.Item>
        <Form.Item
          label="Content"
          name="content"
          rules={[
            {
              required: true,
            },
          ]}
        >
          <Input.TextArea />
        </Form.Item>
      </Form>
    </Create>
  );
};

import React from "react";

import { Edit, useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";
import { Form, Input } from "antd";

interface IPost {
  id: number;
  title: string;
  content: string;
}

const PostEditPage: React.FC = () => {
  const { formProps, saveButtonProps } = useForm<IPost>();

  return (
    <Edit saveButtonProps={saveButtonProps}>
      <Form {...formProps} layout="vertical">
        <Form.Item
          label="Title"
          name="title"
          rules={[
            {
              required: true,
            },
          ]}
        >
          <Input />
        </Form.Item>
        <Form.Item
          label="Content"
          name="content"
          rules={[
            {
              required: true,
            },
          ]}
        >
          <Input.TextArea />
        </Form.Item>
      </Form>
    </Edit>
  );
};

import React from "react";

import { Create, useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";
import { Form, Input } from "antd";

interface IPost {
  id: number;
  title: string;
  content: string;
}

const PostCreatePage: React.FC = () => {
  const { formProps, saveButtonProps } = useForm<IPost>();

  return (
    <Create saveButtonProps={saveButtonProps}>
      <Form {...formProps} layout="vertical">
        <Form.Item
          label="Title"
          name="title"
          rules={[
            {
              required: true,
            },
          ]}
        >
          <Input />
        </Form.Item>
        <Form.Item
          label="Content"
          name="content"
          rules={[
            {
              required: true,
            },
          ]}
        >
          <Input.TextArea />
        </Form.Item>
      </Form>
    </Create>
  );
};

resource will be passed to the dataProvider's method as a params. This parameter is usually used to as a API endpoint path but it all depends on how to handle the resource in your dataProvider. By default it uses the inferred resource name from the route.

For more information on how resource is handled, refer to the creating a data provider section

• When action is "create", it will be passed to the create method from the dataProvider.
• When action is "edit", it will be passed to the update and the getOne method from the dataProvider.
• When action is "clone", it will be passed to the create and the getOne method from the dataProvider.

useForm({
  resource: "categories",
});

If the resource is passed, the id from the current URL will be ignored because it may belong to a different resource. To retrieve the id value from the current URL, use the useParsed hook and pass the id value to the useForm hook.

import { useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";
import { useParsed } from "@refinedev/core";

const { id } = useParsed();

useForm({
  resource: "custom-resource",
  id,
});

Or you can use the setId function to set the id value.

import { useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";

const { setId } = useForm({
  resource: "custom-resource",
});

setId("123");

If you have multiple resources with the same name, you can pass the identifier instead of the name of the resource. It will only be used as the main matching key for the resource, data provider methods will still work with the name of the resource defined in the <Refine/> component.

For more information, refer to the identifier section of the <Refine/> component documentation →

id is used for determining the record to edit or clone. By default the id is determinted from the route. It can be changed with the setId function or the id property. Keep in mind that id is required for action: "edit" and action: "clone".

It is useful when you want to edit or clone a resource from a different page.

useForm({
  action: "edit", // or clone
  resource: "categories",
  id: 1, // <BASE_URL_FROM_DATA_PROVIDER>/categories/1
});

redirect is used for determining the page to redirect after the form is submitted. By default, it uses the list. It can be changed with the redirect property.

It can be set to "show" | "edit" | "list" | "create" or false to prevent the page from redirecting to the list page after the form is submitted.

useForm({
  redirect: false,
});

onMutationSuccess is a callback function that will be called after a successful mutation.

It receives the following parameters:

• data: Returned value from useCreate or useUpdate depending on the action.
• variables: The variables passed to the mutation.
• context: react-query context.
• isAutoSave: It's a boolean value that indicates whether the mutation is triggered by the autoSave feature or not.

useForm({
  onMutationSuccess: (data, variables, context, isAutoSave) => {
    console.log({ data, variables, context, isAutoSave });
  },
});

It's a callback function that will be called after a mutation fails.

It receives the following parameters:

• data: Returned value from useCreate or useUpdate depending on the action.
• variables: The variables passed to the mutation.
• context: react-query context.
• isAutoSave: It's a boolean value that indicates whether the mutation is triggered by the autoSave feature or not.

useForm({
  onMutationError: (data, variables, context, isAutoSave) => {
    console.log({ data, variables, context, isAutoSave });
  },
});

You can use invalidates to manage the invalidations that will occur at the end of the mutation.

By default it's invalidates following queries from the current resource:

• on create or clone mode: "list" and "many"
• on edit mode: "list", "many" and "detail"

useForm({
  invalidates: ["list", "many", "detail"],
});

If there is more than one dataProvider, you should pass the name of the dataProvider you are going to use to dataProviderName.

If you want to use a different dataProvider on all resource pages, you can use the dataProvider prop of the <Refine> component.

useForm({
  dataProviderName: "second-data-provider",
});

Mutation mode determines which mode the mutation runs with. Mutations can run under three different modes: pessimistic, optimistic and undoable. Default mode is pessimistic. Each mode corresponds to a different type of user experience.

useForm({
  mutationMode: "undoable", // "pessimistic" | "optimistic" | "undoable",
});

For more information about mutation modes, refer to the Mutation Mode documentation

NotificationProvider is required for this prop to work.

successNotification allows you to customize the success notification that pops up after the form is submitted, and useForm calls the open function from NotificationProvider:

useForm({
  successNotification: (data, values, resource) => {
    return {
      message: `Post Successfully created with ${data.title}`,
      description: "Success with no errors",
      type: "success",
    };
  },
});

NotificationProvider is required for this prop to work.

errorNotification allows you to customize the error notification that pops up after the form submission fails, and useForm calls the open function from NotificationProvider:

useForm({
  action: "create",
  resource: "post",
  errorNotification: (data, values, resource) => {
    return {
      message: `Something went wrong when deleting ${data.id}`,
      description: "Error",
      type: "error",
    };
  },
});

{
    "message": "Error when updating <resource-name> (status code: ${err.statusCode})" or "Error when creating <resource-name> (status code: ${err.statusCode})",
    "description": "Error",
    "type": "error",
}

meta is a special property that can be used to pass additional information to data provider methods for the following purposes:

• Customizing the data provider methods for specific use cases.
• Generating GraphQL queries using plain JavaScript Objects (JSON).
• Providing additional parameters to the redirection path after the form is submitted.

For more information, refer to the meta section of the General Concepts documentation →

In the following example, we pass the headers property in the meta object to the create method. With similar logic, you can pass any properties to specifically handle the data provider methods.

useForm({
  meta: {
    headers: { "x-meta-data": "true" },
  },
});

const myDataProvider = {
  //...
  create: async ({ resource, variables, meta }) => {
    const headers = meta?.headers ?? {};
    const url = `${apiUrl}/${resource}`;

    const { data } = await httpClient.post(url, variables, { headers });

    return {
      data,
    };
  },
  //...
};

In addition to the meta property, you can also pass the queryMeta property to the useForm hook. This property is used to pass additional information to the useOne hook that is used to fetch the data in the edit and clone modes. This is useful when you have to apply different values to the useOne hook from the useCreate or useUpdate hook mutations.

useForm({
  queryMeta: {
    querySpecificValue: "someValue",
  },
});

If you have overlapping properties in both meta and queryMeta, the queryMeta property will be used.

In addition to the meta property, you can also pass the mutationMeta property to the useForm hook. This property is used to pass additional information to the useCreate or useUpdate hook mutations. This is useful when you have to apply different values to the useCreate or useUpdate hooks from the useOne hook query.

useForm({
  mutationMeta: {
    mutationSpecificValue: "someValue",
  },
});

If you have overlapping properties in both meta and mutationMeta, the mutationMeta property will be used.

In the edit and clone modes, Refine uses useOne hook to fetch data. You can pass the queryOptions options by passing the queryOptions property. This property will only work in the edit and clone actions.

useForm({
  queryOptions: {
    retry: 3,
  },
});

In the create and clone modes, Refine uses the useCreate hook to create data. You can pass mutationOptions by passing the createMutationOptions property. This property will only work in the create and clone actions.

useForm({
  createMutationOptions: {
    retry: 3,
  },
});

In the edit mode, Refine uses useUpdate hook to update data. You can pass mutationOptions by passing updateMutationOptions property. This property will only work in the edit action.

useForm({
  updateMutationOptions: {
    retry: 3,
  },
});

When set to true, warnWhenUnsavedChanges shows a warning when the user tries to leave the page with unsaved changes. It is used to prevent the user from accidentally leaving the page. It is false by default

It can be set globally in Refine config.

useForm({
  warnWhenUnsavedChanges: true,
});

When it's true, submitOnEnter will submit the form when the enter key is pressed. It can be used to prevent the user from accidentally leaving the page. It is false by default

useForm({
  submitOnEnter: true,
});

LiveProvider is required for this prop to work.

liveMode is where you can choose whether to update data automatically ("auto") or not ("manual") if a related live event is received. It can be used to update and show data in real time throughout your app.

useForm({
  liveMode: "auto",
});

LiveProvider is required for this prop to work.

onLiveEvent is the callback function that is executed when new events from a subscription are arrived.

useForm({
  onLiveEvent: (event) => {
    console.log(event);
  },
});

LiveProvider is required for this prop to work.

Params to pass to liveProvider's subscribe method.

If you want loading overtime for the request, you can pass the overtimeOptions prop to the this hook. It is useful when you want to show a loading indicator when the request takes too long. interval is the time interval in milliseconds. onInterval is the function that will be called on each interval.

Return overtime object from this hook. elapsedTime is the elapsed time in milliseconds. It becomes undefined when the request is completed.

const { overtime } = useForm({
  //...
  overtimeOptions: {
    interval: 1000,
    onInterval(elapsedInterval) {
      console.log(elapsedInterval);
    },
  },
});

console.log(overtime.elapsedTime); // undefined, 1000, 2000, 3000 4000, ...

// You can use it like this:
{
  elapsedTime >= 4000 && <div>this takes a bit longer than expected</div>;
}

If you want to save the form automatically after some delay when user edits the form, you can pass true to autoSave.enabled prop.

By default the autoSave feature does not invalidate queries. However, you can use the invalidateOnUnmount prop to invalidate queries upon unmount.

It also supports onMutationSuccess and onMutationError callback functions. You can use isAutoSave parameter to determine whether the mutation is triggered by autoSave or not.

autoSave feature operates exclusively in edit mode. Users can take advantage of this feature while editing data, as changes are automatically saved in editing mode. However, when creating new data, manual saving is still required.

onMutationSuccess and onMutationError callbacks will be called after the mutation is successful or failed.

To enable the autoSave feature, set the enabled parameter to true. By default, it is false.

useForm({
  autoSave: {
    enabled: true,
  },
});

Set the debounce time for the autoSave prop. By default, it is 1000 milliseconds.

useForm({
  autoSave: {
    enabled: true,
    debounce: 2000,
  },
});

If you want to modify the data before sending it to the server, you can use onFinish callback function.

useForm({
  autoSave: {
    enabled: true,
    onFinish: (values) => {
      return {
        foo: "bar",
        ...values,
      };
    },
  },
});

This prop is useful when you want to invalidate the list, many and detail queries from the current resource when the hook is unmounted. By default, it invalidates the list, many and detail queries associated with the current resource. Also, You can use the invalidates prop to select which queries to invalidate. By default, it is false.

useForm({
  autoSave: {
    enabled: true,
    invalidateOnUnmount: true,
  },
});

Default values for the form. Use this to pre-populate the form with data that needs to be displayed.

useForm({
  defaultFormValues: {
    title: "Hello World",
  },
});

Also, it can be provided as an async function to fetch the default values. The loading state can be tracked using the defaultFormValuesLoading state returned from the hook.

🚨 When action is "edit" or "clone" a race condition with async defaultFormValues may occur. In this case, the form values will be the result of the last completed operation.

const { defaultFormValuesLoading } = useForm({
  defaultFormValues: async () => {
    const response = await fetch("https://my-api.com/posts/1");
    const data = await response.json();
    return data;
  },
});

All Refine Core's useForm return values also available in useForm.

It's a <Form> instance. You can refer to Antd <Form> documentation for more information.

It's required to manage <Form> state and actions.

onFinish is called when the form is submitted. It will call the appropriate mutation based on the action property.

The only difference between onFinish and formProps.onFinish is that passing a value to formProps.onFinishis mandatory, whereas onFinish can automatically retrieve values from the form state.

The warnWhenUnsavedChanges feature requires this function to work. If you want to override the form's onValuesChange, keep this in mind.

onKeyUp is a function that will be called when a key is pressed. By default, it will call form.submit() function when the pressed key is Enter.

When action is set to "edit" or "clone", initialValues will be set to the data returned from useOne hook.

It contains all the props needed by the "submit" button within the form (disabled,loading etc.). When saveButtonProps.onClick is called, it triggers form.submit(). You can manually pass these props to your custom button.

formLoading is the loading state of a modal. It's true when useForm is currently being submitted or data is being fetched for the "edit" or "clone" mode.

If the action is set to "edit" or "clone" or if a resource with an id is provided, useForm will call useOne and set the returned values as the query property.

const { query } = useForm();

const { data } = query;

When in "create" or "clone" mode, useForm will call useCreate. When in "edit" mode, it will call useUpdate and set the resulting values as the mutation property.

const { mutation } = useForm();

const { data } = mutation;

useForm determine the id from the router. If you want to change the id dynamically, you can use the setId function.

const { id, setId } = useForm();

const handleIdChange = (id: string) => {
  setId(id);
};

return (
  <div>
    <input value={id} onChange={(e) => handleIdChange(e.target.value)} />
  </div>
);

By default, after a successful mutation, useForm will redirect to the "list" page. To redirect to a different page, you can either use the redirect function to programmatically specify the destination, or set the redirect property in the hook's options.

In the following example, we redirect to the "show" page after a successful mutation:

const { onFinish, redirect } = useForm();

// --

const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
  e.preventDefault();
  const data = await onFinish(formValues);
  redirect("show", data?.data?.id);
};

// --

onFinish is a function that is called when the form is submitted. It will call the appropriate mutation based on the action property. You can override the default behavior by passing an onFinish function in the hook's options.

For example you can change values before sending to the API.

overtime object is returned from this hook. elapsedTime is the elapsed time in milliseconds. It becomes undefined when the request is completed.

const { overtime } = useForm();

console.log(overtime.elapsedTime); // undefined, 1000, 2000, 3000 4000, ...

If autoSave is enabled, this hook returns autoSaveProps object with data, error, and status properties from mutation.

If defaultFormValues is an async function, defaultFormValuesLoading will be true until the function is resolved.

This prop is deprecated and will be removed in the future versions. Use mutation instead.

This prop is deprecated and will be removed in the future versions. Use query instead.

You can invalidate other resources with help of useInvalidate hook.

It is useful when you want to invalidate other resources don't have relation with the current resource.

import { useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";

const PostEdit = () => {
  const invalidate = useInvalidate();

  useForm({
    onMutationSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
      invalidate({
        resource: "users",
        invalidates: ["resourceAll"],
      });
    },
  });

  // ---
};

Here is an example where we modify the form data before submit:

We need to send the values we received from the user in two separate inputs, name and surname, to the API as fullName.

import { Create, useForm } from "@refinedev/antd";
import { Form, Input } from "antd";
import React from "react";

export const UserCreate: React.FC = () => {
  const { formProps, saveButtonProps, onFinish } = useForm();

  const handleOnFinish = (values) => {
    onFinish({
      fullName: `${values.name} ${values.surname}`,
    });
  };

  return (
    <Create saveButtonProps={saveButtonProps}>
      <Form {...formProps} onFinish={handleOnFinish} layout="vertical">
        <Form.Item label="Name" name="name">
          <Input />
        </Form.Item>
        <Form.Item label="Surname" name="surname">
          <Input />
        </Form.Item>
      </Form>
    </Create>
  );
};