Styling a TextInput for Password Input in React Native

Styling a TextInput for Password Input in React Native

17 December 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

When developing mobile applications using React Native, creating a secure password input field is a common requirement. This guide will walk you through how to implement a password input field that masks user input, providing a secure and user-friendly experience.

Implementing Secure Text Input

To achieve a password-style input field in React Native, you can utilize the secureTextEntry prop in the TextInput component. This prop ensures that the input text is obscured, displaying dots or asterisks instead of the actual characters entered by the user.

Basic Implementation

Here is a simple example of how to use the secureTextEntry prop:


  <TextInput 
    style={styles.input}
    placeholder="Password"
    secureTextEntry={true}
    onChangeText={(text) => this.setState({ password: text })}
/>
  

In this example, the secureTextEntry prop is set to true, which masks the input text. The placeholder attribute provides a hint to the user about the expected input.

Enhancing User Experience

For a more interactive experience, consider adding a toggle to show or hide the password. This can be achieved by using state management to track the visibility of the input:


  import { useState } from 'react';
  import { TextInput, View, TouchableOpacity } from 'react-native';
  import { Icon } from 'react-native-elements';

  const PasswordInput = () => {
    const [hidePass, setHidePass] = useState(true);

    return (
      <View>
        <TextInput
          style={styles.input}
          placeholder="Password"
          secureTextEntry={hidePass}
          onChangeText={(text) => this.setState({ password: text })}
        />
        <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => setHidePass(!hidePass)}>
          <Icon name={hidePass ? 'eye-off' : 'eye'} />
        </TouchableOpacity>
      </View>
    );
  };
  

In this enhanced version, a toggle button is added to switch the visibility of the password between masked and unmasked states, improving the overall user experience.

Common Pitfalls

While implementing the secureTextEntry prop, be aware that it does not work with multiline text inputs. Ensure that multiline is set to false when using secureTextEntry.

Advanced Features

For developers using React Native Paper, you can further enhance the password input field by integrating additional features like an outline mode and custom icons.

Streamlining Testing with Repeato

As you implement and test these features in your React Native application, consider using Repeato, a no-code test automation tool that supports iOS and Android platforms. With its computer vision and AI capabilities, Repeato can efficiently create, run, and maintain automated tests, ensuring your password input fields and other components function as intended. Learn more about testing React Native applications with Repeato.

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