React useIsomorphicLayout Hook
React useIsomorphicLayoutEffect hook for SSR-safe layout effects. Prevent hydration warnings while maintaining synchronous DOM access with TypeScript.
Getting useLayoutEffect hydration warnings?
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Ever tried to use useLayoutEffect in a Next.js app and got slammed with "useLayoutEffect does nothing on the server" warnings? You know the drill—you need synchronous DOM access for measurements or animations, but SSR breaks everything with hydration mismatches. This free open source React useIsomorphicLayoutEffect custom hook handles all that environment detection complexity so you can focus on building smooth UIs instead of fighting server-side rendering warnings in your React applications.
useIsomorphicLayoutEffect showcase
Smart effect hook that adapts to server and client environments:
This free open source React hook simplifies layout effects with TypeScript support for modern JavaScript applications. Whether you're building animations, DOM measurements, or theme systems in your Next.js projects, this React hook keeps your SSR rendering clean.
Installation
npx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/use-isomorphic-layout-effect.jsonnpx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/use-isomorphic-layout-effect.jsonpnpm dlx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/use-isomorphic-layout-effect.jsonbunx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/use-isomorphic-layout-effect.jsonWhy most isomorphic effect implementations suck
Look, you could keep wrapping useLayoutEffect in typeof window checks or conditionally calling different effects. But then you hit the pattern duplication—every DOM measurement needs the same environment logic, every animation setup repeats the same checks in React applications.
Most developers manually wrap useLayoutEffect with environment checks that cause code duplication across TypeScript components. Or they use conditional imports that break static analysis and bundler optimization. Some create custom effect wrappers that don't match React's API, leading to confusion and bugs in Next.js projects.
This React hook automatically picks the right effect hook based on execution context in JavaScript applications. useLayoutEffect in the browser for synchronous DOM access, useEffect on the server to prevent hydration warnings. One import, works everywhere.
Plus it's a drop-in replacement. Same API as useLayoutEffect, but without the SSR headaches in React development. No more conditional logic scattered throughout your components.
This free open source React hook manages environment detection while you focus on building features. Whether you're creating React applications, Next.js sites, or TypeScript components, reliable layout effects keep your JavaScript development smooth.
Features
- SSR-safe implementation with automatic environment detection for server/client rendering in React applications
- Hydration warning prevention by using appropriate effect hook based on execution context in TypeScript components
- Synchronous DOM access using useLayoutEffect in browser for performance optimization in Next.js projects
- Drop-in replacement for useLayoutEffect with identical API and behavior in JavaScript development
- TypeScript support with complete type definitions matching React's effect hooks for React frameworks
- Zero runtime overhead with compile-time environment detection in modern applications
- Free open source designed for modern React development workflows
When you'll actually use this
Real talk—this isn't for every effect in React applications. Regular useEffect works fine for most async operations. But when you need synchronous DOM access that must happen before the browser paints, this React hook handles the SSR complexity in Next.js projects.
Perfect for:
- DOM measurements - Element dimensions and positioning calculations built with TypeScript
- Animation setup - Initial animation states before browser paint using React patterns
- Theme initialization - Synchronous theme application to prevent flash in JavaScript applications
- Layout calculations - Responsive behavior based on element sizes in React components
- Scroll positioning - Restoring scroll positions after navigation in Next.js applications
- Focus management - Setting focus states that need immediate DOM access using TypeScript safety
API Reference
useIsomorphicLayoutEffect
useIsomorphicLayoutEffect(effect, deps?): voidSame API as React's useEffect and useLayoutEffect - a true drop-in replacement.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
effect | () => void | (() => void) | The effect function to run |
deps | DependencyList? | Optional dependency array |
Common gotchas
This is still a layout effect in the browser: You get the full synchronous behavior of useLayoutEffect, which can block rendering if your effect is expensive in React applications.
Dependencies work the same way: Include all values from component scope that are used inside the effect, just like with useEffect in TypeScript components.
Server-side effects are still async: On the server, this becomes useEffect, so don't rely on synchronous DOM access during SSR in Next.js projects.
Performance considerations apply: Layout effects run before the browser paints, so keep them fast to avoid blocking the UI in JavaScript applications.
Environment detection is automatic: The React hook detects server vs client automatically - you don't need to add additional environment checks in React frameworks.
DOM availability varies: Always check if DOM elements exist before accessing them, especially in server-side contexts where DOM APIs aren't available in TypeScript projects.
Related hooks you will also like
useIsClient
Client-side detection that complements SSR-safe layout effects
useEventCallback
Stable callback references that rely on layout effect timing
useWindowSize
Window size tracking that uses layout effects for measurements
useMediaQuery
Media query detection with layout effect synchronization
useDarkMode
Theme management that relies on SSR-safe layout effects
useIntersectionObserver
Element visibility that works with layout effect measurements
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