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Align to canonical *Instance types in component ref annotations#56951

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huntie:export-D106144380
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Align to canonical *Instance types in component ref annotations#56951
huntie wants to merge 2 commits into
facebook:mainfrom
huntie:export-D106144380

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@huntie huntie commented May 23, 2026

Summary:
Update all ref parameters, ref-returning props, and useRef calls in built-in components to use the canonical *Instance types introduced in the previous diff.

Changes

  • Replace inline React.ElementRef<typeof NativeComponent> patterns with the canonical *Instance type in each component declaration and its inline destructuring type.
  • Replace useRef<React.ElementRef<...>> with useRef<*Instance> (Pressable, Switch).
  • Replace hostRef prop types with the component *Instance type (TouchableHighlight, TouchableOpacity).
  • Update ModalBaseProps.modalRef and ModalRefProps.ref from deprecated PublicModalInstance to ModalInstance.

Removed aliases

  • ButtonRef (Button.js) — inlined into ButtonInstance
  • SwitchRef (Switch.js) — replaced by SwitchInstance
  • TextForwardRef (Text.js) — replaced by TextInstance
  • type Instance (Pressable.js) — replaced by PressableInstance
  • HostComponent<empty> import (ActivityIndicator.js) — no longer needed
  • ProgressBarAndroidNativeComponentType typeof import (ProgressBarAndroid.js) — no longer needed

Changelog: [Internal]

Differential Revision: D106144380

Summary:
Add a publicly exported `*Instance` type for every built-in component in `index.js.flow`, giving consumers a consistent way to type refs for any React Native component.

Affects the Strict TypeScript API (opt-in generated TS types) only.

#### Motivation + RFC

Draft implementation for the recommended approach in react-native-community/discussions-and-proposals#1003.

Alternative to facebook#56673.

#### New types

| Component | Instance Type | Type Value |
|---|---|---|
| `ActivityIndicator` | `ActivityIndicatorInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `Button` | `ButtonInstance` | `ButtonRef` (platform-dependent) |
| `DrawerLayoutAndroid` | `DrawerLayoutAndroidInstance` | `DrawerLayoutAndroidMethods` |
| `FlatList` | `FlatListInstance` | `FlatList<>` |
| `Image` | `ImageInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `ImageBackground` | `ImageBackgroundInstance` | `ImageBackground` (class) |
| `KeyboardAvoidingView` | `KeyboardAvoidingViewInstance` | `KeyboardAvoidingView` (class) |
| `Modal` | `ModalInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `Pressable` | `PressableInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `ProgressBarAndroid` | `ProgressBarAndroidInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `RefreshControl` | `RefreshControlInstance` | `RefreshControl` (class) |
| `SafeAreaView` | `SafeAreaViewInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `ScrollView` | `ScrollViewInstance` | `extends HostInstance, ScrollViewImperativeMethods` |
| `SectionList` | `SectionListInstance` | `SectionList<>` |
| `StatusBar` | `StatusBarInstance` | `StatusBar` (class) |
| `Switch` | `SwitchInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `Text` | `TextInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `TextInput` | `TextInputInstance` | `extends ReactNativeElement` (existing) |
| `TouchableHighlight` | `TouchableHighlightInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `TouchableNativeFeedback` | `TouchableNativeFeedbackInstance` | `TouchableNativeFeedback` (class) |
| `TouchableOpacity` | `TouchableOpacityInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `View` | `ViewInstance` | `HostInstance` |
| `VirtualizedList` | `VirtualizedListInstance` | `React.ElementRef<VirtualizedListType>` |
| `VirtualizedSectionList` | `VirtualizedSectionListInstance` | `React.ElementRef<VirtualizedSectionListType>` |

#### Renames

- `PublicScrollViewInstance` → `ScrollViewInstance` (old name kept as deprecated alias; internal usages in `ScrollView.js` and `FlatList.js` updated)
- `PublicModalInstance` → `ModalInstance` (old name kept as deprecated alias)

#### Skipped (no ref support)

`InputAccessoryView`, `experimental_LayoutConformance`, `TouchableWithoutFeedback`, `Touchable` (namespace)

Changelog:
[General][Added] - **Strict TypeScript API**: Add `*Instance` ref types for all built-in components

Differential Revision: D106144383
@meta-cla meta-cla Bot added the CLA Signed This label is managed by the Facebook bot. Authors need to sign the CLA before a PR can be reviewed. label May 23, 2026
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Warning

JavaScript API change detected

This PR commits an update to ReactNativeApi.d.ts, indicating a change to React Native's public JavaScript API.

  • Please include a clear changelog message.
  • This change will be subject to additional review.

This change was flagged as: POTENTIALLY_BREAKING

Summary:
Update all ref parameters, ref-returning props, and `useRef` calls in built-in components to use the canonical `*Instance` types introduced in the previous diff.

#### Changes

- Replace inline `React.ElementRef<typeof NativeComponent>` patterns with the canonical `*Instance` type in each component declaration and its inline destructuring type.
- Replace `useRef<React.ElementRef<...>>` with `useRef<*Instance>` (Pressable, Switch).
- Replace `hostRef` prop types with the component `*Instance` type (TouchableHighlight, TouchableOpacity).
- Update `ModalBaseProps.modalRef` and `ModalRefProps.ref` from deprecated `PublicModalInstance` to `ModalInstance`.

#### Removed aliases

- `ButtonRef` (Button.js) — inlined into `ButtonInstance`
- `SwitchRef` (Switch.js) — replaced by `SwitchInstance`
- `TextForwardRef` (Text.js) — replaced by `TextInstance`
- `type Instance` (Pressable.js) — replaced by `PressableInstance`
- `HostComponent<empty>` import (ActivityIndicator.js) — no longer needed
- `ProgressBarAndroidNativeComponentType` typeof import (ProgressBarAndroid.js) — no longer needed

Changelog: [Internal]

Differential Revision: D106144380
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meta-codesync Bot commented May 23, 2026

@huntie has exported this pull request. If you are a Meta employee, you can view the originating Diff in D106144380.

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