How to Enable Autofill for TextInput in React Native

In the fast-paced world of mobile apps, convenience is key. One way to enhance user experience is by enabling autofill for form fields. This blog post will discuss how to use the autofill feature in React Native’s TextInput component to make form filling quicker and easier for the user.

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of React Native and JavaScript
• A working React Native environment

Basic TextInput Component

Let’s start by creating a simple TextInput component in React Native.

import React from 'react';
import { View, TextInput } from 'react-native';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <View>
      <TextInput placeholder="Enter your name" />
    </View>
  );
};

Enable Autofill

React Native’s TextInput component has an autoComplete prop that can be set to enable autofill.

<TextInput placeholder="Enter your name" autoComplete="name" />

The autoComplete prop specifies which kind of information the input expects. Setting it to “name” will enable the name autofill feature.

Different Autofill Types

There are various autofill types that you can use. Here are some examples:

<TextInput placeholder="Enter your email" autoComplete="email" />
<TextInput placeholder="Enter your password" autoComplete="password" />
<TextInput placeholder="Enter your tel" autoComplete="tel" />

The “email” autofills email addresses stored in the device. The “password” autofills saved passwords. The “tel” autofills telephone numbers. All supported autofill types can be seen here.

Handle Autofill Events

Sometimes you might want to run custom logic when an autofill occurs. You can use the onChange or onChangeText props for that.

const App = () => {
  const handleAutofill = (text) => {
    console.log("Autofill used:", text);
  };

  return (
    <View>
      <TextInput
        placeholder="Enter your name"
        autoComplete="name"
        onChangeText={handleAutofill}
      />
    </View>
  );
};

onChangeText prop takes a function that is invoked when the input text changes, including during autofill.

Limitations and Platform Differences

• Android and iOS might handle autofill differently.
• Some autofill types might not be supported on certain versions of Android or iOS.

Conclusion

Autofill for TextInput in React Native is a useful feature to enhance user convenience. By setting the autoComplete prop and optionally handling autofill events, you can make form filling a breeze for your users.