DEV CommunityThursday · June 25, 2026FREE

React useIsomorphicLayoutEffect: Fix the SSR useLayoutEffect Warning (2026)

The article addresses the common React warning that occurs when useLayoutEffect is used in server-side rendering (SSR) environments like Next.js. The warning arises because useLayoutEffect relies on the DOM, which is not available on the server. The author presents a custom hook called useIsomorphicLayoutEffect that conditionally uses useLayoutEffect on the client side and useEffect on the server side. This approach eliminates the warning while preserving the intended behavior of useLayoutEffect on the client. The hook is implemented using a simple check for the window object to determine the environment. The article includes code snippets showing the hook definition and its usage in a component. It also notes that this pattern is commonly used in libraries like React Router and Chakra UI. The solution is compatible with React 18 and later versions, and it is particularly useful for developers working with SSR frameworks such as Next.js. By adopting this pattern, developers can avoid the warning without sacrificing performance or functionality.