---
title: Avoid using string references
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Static Code Analysis (SAST) > SAST
  Rules > Avoid using string references
---

# Avoid using string references

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**ID:** `jsx-react/no-string-refs`

**Language:** JavaScript

**Severity:** Warning

**Category:** Best Practices

## Description{% #description %}

String references are a legacy feature of React, use a reference callback instead.

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```jsx
var Hello = createReactClass({
 render: function() {
  return <div ref="hello" a="foo" />;
 }
});
var Hello = createReactClass({
 render: function() {
  return <div ref="hello">Hello, world.</div>;
 }
});
var Hello = createReactClass({
  componentDidMount: function() {
    var component = this.refs.hello;
    // ...do something with component
  },
  render: function() {
    return <div ref="hello">Hello, world.</div>;
  }
});
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```jsx
var Hello = createReactClass({
  componentDidMount: function() {
    var component = this.hello;
    // ...do something with component
  },
  render() {
    return <div ref={(c) => { this.hello = c; }}>Hello, world.</div>;
  }
});
```
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