In this article, we will explore how to create a versatile post component in React that supports link navigation and onClick event handling. Additionally, we will ensure the ability to select and copy text within the post without triggering link navigation. Demo and Resources The source code for the component is available on , and you can find the npm package . Before we dive into the details, you can check out a live demo of the component in action on . GitHub here PostWrapper CodeSandbox CodeSandbox Problem Statement №1: Text Selection and Link Navigation Conflict We encountered a conflict between text selection and link navigation when implementing the post component. By default, when users select text within the post, the browser triggers the link navigation behavior, interfering with the intended text selection functionality. Solution: Prevent Link Navigation on Text Selection To address this issue, we integrated the following logic into the component: PostWrapper const selection = window.getSelection(); const textIsSelected = selection && selection.toString().length > 0; if (textIsSelected) return; This code snippet checks if any text is selected within the post. If there is a selection, the link navigation is bypassed, allowing users to freely select and copy the text without triggering unintended navigation. By incorporating this solution, we provide a seamless experience for users who want to interact with the post content, select the text, and copy it without being redirected to the link target. Problem Statement №2: Handling Clicks on Links Inside the Post Another challenge we encountered was handling clicks on links inside the post. We wanted to ensure that when users clicked on a link within the post, the link navigation would proceed as expected, without any interference from the post’s click behavior. Solution: Enabling Link Navigation for Links Inside the Post To address this issue, we implemented the following logic in the component: PostWrapper const postLinkClicked = clickedElement.closest("a") !== null; if (postLinkClicked) return; This code snippet checks if the clicked element is an tag or a descendant of an tag. We allow the link navigation to proceed without further processing if it is. <a> <a> This solution ensures that links inside the post behave as expected, allowing users to navigate to the specified URLs without interference from the post’s click-handling logic. Problem Statement №3: Handling Clicks on Internal Elements with onClick Handlers We also encountered the challenge of handling clicks on internal elements within the post that have their own handlers. In this scenario, we wanted to ensure that the handler of the internal element would execute without triggering the link navigation defined by the link prop of the component. onClick onClick PostWrapper Solution: Preventing Link Navigation and Executing the onClick Handler To address this issue, we enhanced the click-handling logic in the component as follows: PostWrapper const isChildClicked = wrapperRef.current?.contains(clickedElement) && Boolean(clickedElement?.onclick); if (isChildClicked) return; By incorporating this solution, we check if the clicked element is a descendant of the wrapper element and if it has a non-null property. If both conditions are met, we allow the handler of the internal element to execute without triggering the link navigation. onclick onClick This enhancement ensures that internal elements with their own handlers can function independently within the component without interfering with the link navigation behavior. onClick PostWrapper Problem Statement №4: Supporting the Simultaneous Use of Link Navigation and onClick Events Another requirement we had was the ability to use both link navigation and the simultaneously event for specific use cases. We wanted to allow users to define custom actions, such as analytics events when clicking on the post. onClick Solution: Enabling the Passing of Analytics Events or Custom Actions through the onClick Handler To address this requirement, we extended the existing click-handling logic in the component to enable the passing of analytics events or custom actions through the handler. Users can define their desired actions within the function passed to the component. PostWrapper onClick onClick For example: <PostWrapper className="post-wrapper" link="https://example.com" target="_blank" onClick={(event) => { // Custom analytics event analytics.track('PostClicked', { postId: postId }); // Additional custom actions // ... }} > {/* Post content */} </PostWrapper> By utilizing the prop, users can define their own event handlers and trigger custom actions alongside or instead of the link navigation. onClick This flexibility allows users to seamlessly incorporate their tracking, analytics, or other custom logic within the component. PostWrapper Usage The npm package provides a flexible and versatile solution for wrapping post elements within an interactive container. This component allows you to handle clicks on internal elements, navigate to a designated URL when clicking on the wrapper, and support the simultaneous use of link navigation and custom events.Installation react-clickable-post-wrapper onClick Installation You can install the package via npm: npm install react-clickable-post-wrapper Example Usage Here’s an example of how you can use the component: PostWrapper import React from "react"; import PostWrapper from "react-clickable-post-wrapper"; const MyPost = () => { const handlePostClick = () => { console.log("Post clicked!"); }; return ( <PostWrapper className="post-wrapper" link="https://example.com" target="_blank" onClick={handlePostClick} > {/* Your post content */} </PostWrapper> ); }; In the example above, the component is used to wrap the post content. Clicking on the wrapper triggers the function, and if the click is not handled or prevented, it navigates to the specified link. PostWrapper handlePostClick You can customize the , , and props according to your needs. className link targert I hope that this article will help you in the development of your components and applications. Feel free to comment if you have any suggestions for improving the component. Have fun building your components and applications, and happy coding!
