Learn How to Implement Drag and Drop in ReactJS

Want to know how to implement Drag and Drop in ReactJS? Follow these steps

XongoLab Technologies
Frontend Weekly
4 min readSep 14, 2022

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This post will clear up the way to achieve the Drag and Drop feature in React.js with little effort.

Uploading files, moving items between multiple lists, and rearranging images and assets are the most common use cases for Drag and Drop in React.

Now let’s see how to implement the Drag and Drop in ReactJS. But, before let’s understand what is Drag and Drop.

What is Drag and Drop?

Drag and Drop in the application or web perspective is an action where developers select a text, box, image, or file and drag it, taking it to the section they require.

Knowing now about the basics of this functionality, you must have a question — if we plan to implement this in ReactJS, how to perform this task? Don’t worry. Continue reading to know the steps to implement DnD in ReactJS.

How to Implement Drag and Drop in ReactJS?

Keep these steps in mind when you implement Drag and Drop in React.js so you can create an app that is engaging and captures the attention of the maximum number of users.

Step 1
Install React DnD npm Package

Install the React DnD npm package in the React project and verify the dependencies present in the package.json of the React project

Check the images below to know how to perform this action.

drag and drop in reactjs
drag and drop in reactjs
Image source: contactmentor.com

Step 2
Create List and Make Elements There Easy to Drag

The next step is to pass the draggable prop to each div so that it becomes easy to drag the different elements.

The image below will give clarity to the functionality better.

drag and drop in reactjs
Image source: rootstack.com

Step 3
Locate Items You Want to Drag

Use the useRef hook to hold items you wish to drag. Next, utilize onDragStart to drag and paste those items to the different items within the list.

drag and drop in reactjs
Image source: rootstack.com

Step 4
Track Items You are Dragging

Use the useRef hook to hold items you plan to drag. Next, take advantage of onDragStart to drag those items and paste them to the different items in the list.

drag and drop in reactjs
Image source: rootstack.com

Step 5
Rearrange the List

Last, the step you need to follow so you can implement drag and drop with ReactJS is to rearrange the list. This means it is vital to rearrange the list when you manage to place elements dragged by you on top of another element or another place.

drag and drop in reactjs
Image source: rootstack.com

Alongside the stages listed above, others that will also streamline this journey for you when you implement drag and drop in ReactJS are as follows:

  • Declare the React state for the item list.
  • Define DragDropContext and Droppable.
  • Add <div></div> for the list container and the placeholder.
  • Create a Draggable element for every item.
  • Display those items with props.

With all these steps placed focus on when you implement Drag and Drop while performing ReactJS development services, you will be able to successfully create an interactive interface.

Wrapping up

Hope you understand what the Drag and Drop feature is and how to implement Drag and Drop in ReactJS with the assistance of third-party libraries.

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XongoLab Technologies
Frontend Weekly

Trusted web & mobile app development company serving clients across the globe since 2011. Working with AI, DevOps, ML & IoT. https://www.xongolab.com/