FrontendHaltReact·Intermediate·Conceptual·1 min read
Why might moving state into a ref instead of state help a drag interaction?
Short interview answer
A ref update doesn't trigger a re-render at all, so continuous high-frequency updates like pointer position can drive a direct style mutation without paying React's render cost on every event.
Key takeaway
Explain the underlying mental model clearly, then support it with a concrete example and its trade-offs.