trying to use ref

[vksgautam1986]

Describe the bug
A clear and concise description of what the bug is.
i am trying to use ref to setvalue but its giving null. otpInputRef.current its giving null

Expected behavior
can use ref to setvalue

Environment (please complete the following information):

• OS: mac os
• Device OS: IOS
• Device version:17.6
• Library version: latest

Code `
const OTPVerificationModal =forwardRef((props, ref) => {
const { showOtpVerificationModal, hideOtpVerificationModal, onChangeTextOtp, onSubmitOtp }=props;
const otpInputRef = useRef(null); // Explicitly type the ref

// Expose methods through ref
React.useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
  setValueOtp: (newValue: string) => {
    console.log("otpInputRefotpInputRef ", otpInputRef)
    otpInputRef.current?.setValue('123456')
  },
  // Add other methods you want to expose
}));

return (
    <Modal statusBarTranslucent={true} animationType="slide" transparent={true} visible={showOtpVerificationModal} onRequestClose={() => { }} style={styles.centeredView}>
        <View style={styles.centeredView}>
            <View style={styles.parentView}>
                <View style={styles.bodyView}>
                    <Text style={[styles.text, styles.margin]}>{i18next.t('otpVerification')}</Text>
                    <TouchableOpacity
                        style={[styles.cross, styles.margin]}
                        onPress={hideOtpVerificationModal}>
                        <Image
                            style={{
                                width: moderateScale(18),
                                height: moderateScale(18),
                                tintColor: colors.gray,
                            }}
                            source={Images.cross}
                        />
                    </TouchableOpacity>
                </View>
                <Text style={{ fontWeight: '600', color: colors.gray }}>{i18next.t('enterOTP')}</Text>
                <View style={styles.base}>                       
                    <View style={{ flexDirection: 'row', justifyContent: 'space-evenly', marginTop: 5 }}>                            
                        <OtpInput ref={otpInputRef} theme={{pinCodeContainerStyle:{backgroundColor:'#F1F1F1'}, focusedPinCodeContainerStyle:{borderColor:colors.appColor}}}type="numeric" numberOfDigits={6} onTextChange={(text) => onChangeTextOtp(text)} />
                    </View>
                    <View >
                        <TouchableOpacity style={[styles.button,{marginTop:30}]} onPress={onSubmitOtp}>
                            <Text style={styles.laterStyle}>{i18next.t('verifyProceed')}</Text>
                        </TouchableOpacity>
                    </View>
                </View>                   
            </View>
        </View>
    </Modal>
)

})

`

[vksgautam1986]

[vksgautam1986]

now i defined this modal inside the main component .
this is how it shows and if if i try to access its showing null
console.log("this.otpRef.current", this.otpRef)
console.log( this.otpRef.current)

[anday013]

From the first sight, it makes me think that the issue is in the initialization time of the component. As the modal is not rendered straight away on the screen, setting reference skips first renders. So it becomes available in the later renders