Enhance Your Email Form with Validation
It might be difficult to implement form validation in React, particularly when combining React Hook Form with other tools. We will look at how to enhance an existing email contact form function with React Hook Form and Zod validation in this post.
You will be able to improve the operation of your form and make sure that your email contact form is dependable and strong by following this methodical technique. Let's get started and streamline the form validation procedure.
Command | Description |
---|---|
useForm | React Hook Form offers a hook for managing form validation and state. |
zodResolver | A resolution function that combines React Hook Form and Zod schema validation. |
renderToStaticMarkup | A React DOM Server method that converts React components into static HTML strings. |
nodemailer.createTransport | Makes a transport object using Nodemailer to send emails. |
bodyParser.json | Express middleware for parsing JSON request bodies. |
transporter.sendMail | Use the Nodemailer configured transport object to deliver emails. |
replyTo | A feature of Nodemailer that allows you to specify the email's reply-to address. |
Applying Email Functionality and Validation
For form validation, the frontend script incorporates React Hook Form and Zod. Form state is managed by the useForm hook, and zodResolver function links the form to Zod validation. The data is processed by the handleSubmit function after the form is submitted. The React components are transformed into static HTML strings via the renderToStaticMarkup function, which is subsequently utilized to produce the email content. With this configuration, robust client-side validation is provided and the data is validated prior to the email being sent.
With Express, the backend script is constructed with Node.js. nodemailer.createTransport sets up the email transport service, and bodyParser.json handles JSON request bodies. The transporter.sendMail function uses the supplied information to send the email when the API endpoint is accessed. Proper email communication is ensured by setting the reply-to address using the replyTo option. The integration of frontend and backend scripts offers a comprehensive approach to managing email functionality and form submission with validation.
Combining Zod and React Hook Form for Email Validation
Frontend: React using Zod and React Hook Form
import React from 'react';
import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod';
import * as z from 'zod';
const schema = z.object({
fullName: z.string().min(1, "Full Name is required"),
senderEmail: z.string().email("Invalid email address"),
phone: z.string().min(10, "Phone number is too short"),
message: z.string().min(1, "Message is required"),
});
const ContactForm = () => {
const { register, handleSubmit, formState: { errors } } = useForm({
resolver: zodResolver(schema)
});
const onSubmit = async (data) => {
const finalHtml = renderToStaticMarkup(
<ContactFormEmail message={data.message} senderEmail={data.senderEmail} />
);
const finalText = renderToStaticMarkup(
<ContactFormEmail message={data.message} senderEmail={data.senderEmail} />
);
try {
const res = await fetch('/api/sendEmail.json', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
body: JSON.stringify({
from: 'john@doe.com',
to: 'john@doe.com',
subject: 'New message from contact form',
reply_to: data.senderEmail,
html: finalHtml,
text: finalText
})
});
} catch (error) {
setError('root', { message: error.response.data.message });
}
};
return (
<form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
<input {...register('fullName')} placeholder="Full Name" />
{errors.fullName && <p>{errors.fullName.message}</p>}
<input {...register('senderEmail')} placeholder="Email" />
{errors.senderEmail && <p>{errors.senderEmail.message}</p>}
<input {...register('phone')} placeholder="Phone" />
{errors.phone && <p>{errors.phone.message}</p>}
<textarea {...register('message')} placeholder="Message" />
{errors.message && <p>{errors.message.message}</p>}
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>
);
};
export default ContactForm;
Configuring the Email Sending Backend
Backend: Node.js with Express
const express = require('express');
const nodemailer = require('nodemailer');
const bodyParser = require('body-parser');
const app = express();
app.use(bodyParser.json());
const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
service: 'gmail',
auth: {
user: 'your-email@gmail.com',
pass: 'your-password'
}
});
app.post('/api/sendEmail.json', (req, res) => {
const { from, to, subject, reply_to, html, text } = req.body;
const mailOptions = {
from, to, subject, replyTo: reply_to, html, text
};
transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => {
if (error) {
return res.status(500).send({ message: error.message });
}
res.status(200).send({ message: 'Email sent successfully' });
});
});
app.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
});
Combining Server-Side and Client-Side Validation
Integrating client-side and server-side validation is essential for handling form validation and email functionality. Server-side validation is necessary to preserve data security and integrity, but client-side validation guarantees a better user experience by offering instant feedback. The client-side use of React Hook Form with Zod enables efficient definition of schemas and validation of user inputs. By preventing erroneous data from being processed and delivered to the server, this method reduces errors and improves the quality of the data.
Utilizing Express on the server side in conjunction with middleware such as body-parser and Nodemailer guarantees that the data can be handled and processed safely by the backend. As a second line of defense, server-side validation makes sure that the values and format of the data it receives match what is intended. Strong and all-encompassing, this dual-layer validation approach offers a safe and convenient user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Zod Integration with React Hook Form
- How can I combine Zod with React Hook Form?
- To link Zod validation with React Hook Form, use the zodResolver function from the @hookform/resolvers/zod package.
- Why does renderToStaticMarkup exist?
- React components can be transformed into static HTML strings using renderToStaticMarkup, which can then be utilized for email content or other static HTML requirements.
- How can I use React Hook Form to manage form submissions?
- To manage form submissions and verify data before processing it, use the handleSubmit function from React Hook Form.
- What does nodemailer.createTransport do?
- nodemailer.createTransport constructs a transport object using the credentials of a given service in order to deliver emails.
- Why is validation on the server side crucial?
- Server-side validation protects against fraudulent inputs and guarantees the validity of the data received by the server.
Concluding Remarks about Form Submission and Validation
You may improve data consistency and user experience in your React applications by integrating Zod with React Hook Form for form validation. You may build a reliable form submission handling system by utilizing Node.js and Express to combine server-side processing with client-side validation. This methodology guarantees appropriate validation and secure processing of the data, hence mitigating errors and enhancing reliability. By putting these strategies into effect, you may greatly enhance your web forms' security and functionality.