Can ES6 Arrow Functions Permanently Bind Class Methods in React?

How to Utilize Arrow Functions in ES6 Classes as Class Methods

When initially incorporating ES6 classes into React, it was common practice to bind instance methods explicitly (as demonstrated in the example below). However, a key question arises: is it possible with ES6 to permanently bind class functions to a class instance using arrow functions, simplifying their use as callbacks?

class SomeClass extends React.Component {
  // Bound method
  constructor() {
    this.handleInputChange = this.handleInputChange.bind(this);
  }
}

CoffeeScript offers this functionality, but it remains unclear if something similar can be achieved in ES6.

class SomeClass extends React.Component {
  // Attempted arrow function binding
  handleInputChange(val) => {
    console.log('selectionMade: ', val);
  }
}

This question seeks to understand if arrow functions can be permanently bound to class instances within ES6, allowing them to be effortlessly utilized as callback functions, ensuring the correct context when passed to functions like setTimeout.

Solution: Correcting the Syntax

The original attempt to define a class method using an arrow function contains a minor syntax error. The correct syntax is shown below:

class SomeClass extends React.Component {
  handleInputChange = (val) => {
    console.log('selectionMade: ', val);
  }
}

It's important to note that this syntax necessitates the activation of experimental features within Babel for successful compilation. By installing the necessary plugin (transform-class-properties), you can enable these experimental features.

Moreover, you can find a comprehensive discussion on Class Fields and Static Properties in the official proposal documentation.

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