Use Js Interop

dotnet/use-js-interop

> Add, review, or fix JavaScript interop in Blazor components. collocated .razor.js modules, IJSRuntime, IJSObjectReference lifecycle, DotNetObjectReference, ElementReference, timing rules for when JS is available, IAsyncDisposable disposal of JS references, server-side JS interop safety. (use author-component), forms (use collect-user-input).

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the whole folder, loaded on every use

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how many repositories repackaged it

4898

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on the repository, not the skill itself

Install

one command, takes just this skill from the repository

npx skills add https://github.com/dotnet/skills --skill use-js-interop

The instruction itself

12 sections, as written by the author

JS Interop in Blazor

1. Collocated JS Modules

Always use collocated .razor.js files with export — never global window.* functions or <script> tags.

// ChartPanel.razor.js — placed next to ChartPanel.razor
export function initialize(canvas, dotNetRef) { /* ... */ }
export function updateData(points) { /* ... */ }
export function dispose() { /* ... */ }

Import paths: same project = "./Components/ChartPanel.razor.js", RCL = "./_content/{AssemblyName}/...".

2. Lifecycle Timing

All JS interop must happen in OnAfterRenderAsync or event handlers — never in OnInitialized, OnParametersSet, or constructors. JS is not available during server prerendering.

Use a typed interop wrapper (see Section 4) — never call InvokeAsync/InvokeVoidAsync with raw string literals:

private ChartInterop? _chart;

protected override async Task OnAfterRenderAsync(bool firstRender)
{
    if (firstRender)
    {
        _chart = new ChartInterop(JS);
        await _chart.InitializeAsync(_canvasRef);
    }
}

Parameter changes: set a flag in OnParametersSet, apply in OnAfterRenderAsync:

private bool _dataChanged;

protected override void OnParametersSet() => _dataChanged = true;

protected override async Task OnAfterRenderAsync(bool firstRender)
{
    if (firstRender) { /* init */ }
    else if (_dataChanged && _chart is not null)
    {
        _dataChanged = false;
        await _chart.UpdateDataAsync(DataPoints);
    }
}

Each JS interop call crosses the .NET-to-JS boundary (and in Blazor Server, the SignalR circuit). Batching applies in both directions — .NET→JS and JS→.NET.

.NET → JS: merge consecutive calls

If the C# side makes two or more JS calls in a row, combine them into one JS function:

// ❌ Two round-trips — theme and locale are always applied together
await _module.InvokeVoidAsync("applyTheme", theme);
await _module.InvokeVoidAsync("applyLocale", locale);

// ❌ Result of one call feeds into another — both can stay in JS
var token = await _module.InvokeAsync<string>("createAccessToken");
await _module.InvokeVoidAsync("storeToken", token);

// ✅ One call applies both — no data dependency, no reason for two trips
export function applyPreferences(theme, locale) {
    document.documentElement.dataset.theme = theme;
    document.documentElement.lang = locale;
}

// ✅ Chain stays in JS — the token never needs to cross the boundary
export function createAndStoreToken() {
    const token = crypto.randomUUID();
    sessionStorage.setItem('access-token', token);
    return token;
}

JS → .NET: batch callbacks

When JS needs to send multiple pieces of data back to .NET, send them in a single invokeMethodAsync call rather than making separate callbacks:

// ❌ Two .NET round-trips from JS
await dotNetRef.invokeMethodAsync(ON_VOLUME_CHANGED, volume);
await dotNetRef.invokeMethodAsync(ON_PLAYBACK_CHANGED, isPlaying);

// ✅ One callback with all data
await dotNetRef.invokeMethodAsync(ON_PLAYER_STATE_CHANGED, { volume, isPlaying });

Rule: if two interop calls always happen together from either side, merge them into one function.

4. Typed Interop Wrapper

Encapsulate interop for a feature in a plain class that owns the module lifecycle:

public sealed class ChartInterop : IAsyncDisposable
{
    internal const string ModulePath = "./Components/ChartPanel.razor.js";
    internal const string InitMethod = "initialize";
    internal const string UpdateMethod = "updateData";
    internal const string DisposeMethod = "dispose";

    private readonly IJSRuntime _js;
    private IJSObjectReference? _module;

    public ChartInterop(IJSRuntime js) => _js = js;

    private async ValueTask<IJSObjectReference> GetModuleAsync()
        => _module ??= await _js.InvokeAsync<IJSObjectReference>("import", ModulePath);

    public async ValueTask InitializeAsync(ElementReference canvas)
    {
        var module = await GetModuleAsync();
        await module.InvokeVoidAsync(InitMethod, canvas);
    }

    public async ValueTask UpdateDataAsync(IReadOnlyList<DataPoint> points)
    {
        var module = await GetModuleAsync();
        await module.InvokeVoidAsync(UpdateMethod, points);
    }

    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
    {
        try
        {
            if (_module is not null)
            {
                await _module.InvokeVoidAsync(DisposeMethod);
                await _module.DisposeAsync();
            }
        }
        catch (JSDisconnectedException) { }
    }
}

The component creates and uses the wrapper with no magic strings:

@inject IJSRuntime JS
@implements IAsyncDisposable

<canvas @ref="_canvasRef" width="600" height="400"></canvas>

@code {
    private ElementReference _canvasRef;
    private ChartInterop? _chart;

    protected override async Task OnAfterRenderAsync(bool firstRender)
    {
        if (firstRender)
        {
            _chart = new ChartInterop(JS);
            await _chart.InitializeAsync(_canvasRef);
        }
    }

    async ValueTask IAsyncDisposable.DisposeAsync()
    {
        if (_chart is not null)
            await _chart.DisposeAsync();
    }
}

Prefer a concrete class over interface + implementation for interop wrappers. For unit testing, substitute IJSRuntime directly (it is already an interface).

5. DotNetObjectReference for JS-to-.NET Callbacks

_dotNetRef = DotNetObjectReference.Create(this);
await _module.InvokeVoidAsync("initialize", _dotNetRef);

On the JS side, wrap the dotNetRef in a class. Use async/await with try/catch (not .catch()) to guard against circuit loss. Define .NET method name constants at the top:

const ON_CLIPBOARD_CHANGED = 'OnClipboardChanged';

class ClipboardMonitor {
    #dotNetRef;
    #abortController;

    constructor(dotNetRef) {
        this.#dotNetRef = dotNetRef;
        this.#abortController = new AbortController();
    }

    start() {
        document.addEventListener('copy', async () => {
            try {
                const text = await navigator.clipboard.readText();
                await this.#dotNetRef.invokeMethodAsync(ON_CLIPBOARD_CHANGED, text);
            } catch { /* circuit disconnected or clipboard denied */ }
        }, { signal: this.#abortController.signal });
    }

    dispose() {
        this.#abortController.abort();
    }
}

let monitor;
export function initialize(dotNetRef) {
    monitor = new ClipboardMonitor(dotNetRef);
    monitor.start();
}

export function dispose() {
    monitor?.dispose();
}

Rules:

[JSInvokable] methods must be public — private/internal silently fails at runtime
Wrap StateHasChanged in InvokeAsync inside [JSInvokable] callbacks:

  [JSInvokable]
  public async Task OnClipboardChanged(string text)
  {
      await InvokeAsync(() => { _lastClipboard = text; StateHasChanged(); });
  }

Always try/catch around invokeMethodAsync in JS — circuit loss throws
Use const for .NET method name strings in JS — prevents typo bugs that silently fail
Dispose DotNetObjectReference in DisposeAsync

6. Disposal and Server Safety

Always implement IAsyncDisposable. Call JS cleanup first, then dispose references. Catch JSDisconnectedException for Blazor Server circuit loss:

public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
{
    try
    {
        if (_module is not null)
        {
            await _module.InvokeVoidAsync("dispose");
            await _module.DisposeAsync();
        }
    }
    catch (JSDisconnectedException) { }

    _dotNetRef?.Dispose();
}

Never use sync IDisposable for JS interop cleanup — InvokeVoidAsync returns ValueTask and must be awaited.

7. ElementReference

Pass DOM elements via @ref, not string IDs:

<canvas @ref="_canvasRef" width="600" height="400"></canvas>

await _chart.InitializeAsync(_canvasRef);

Checklist

[ ] JS is in collocated .razor.js with export — no window.* globals
[ ] All interop in OnAfterRenderAsync or event handlers — never during prerender
[ ] IAsyncDisposable catches JSDisconnectedException
[ ] DotNetObjectReference disposed in DisposeAsync; JS side has try/catch around invokeMethodAsync
[ ] [JSInvokable] methods are public and use await InvokeAsync(StateHasChanged)
[ ] InvokeVoidAsync used when no return value is needed
[ ] ElementReference instead of string IDs
[ ] Related operations batched into single interop calls (both .NET→JS and JS→.NET)

Common Mistakes Checklist

| Mistake | Fix |

|---------|-----|

| Using JS for something achievable with CSS | Use CSS custom properties, data- attributes, pseudo-classes |

| Many fine-grained interop calls | Batch into coarse functions — both .NET→JS and JS→.NET |

| Component imports JS module directly | Encapsulate in a strongly typed interop class |

| Magic strings for method names / module paths | Define internal const fields in the interop class |

| Interface + implementation for interop wrapper | Use a plain class; mock IJSRuntime for tests instead |

| JS calls in OnInitializedAsync | Move to OnAfterRenderAsync(firstRender) |

| InvokeAsync<object> for void calls | Use InvokeVoidAsync |

| IDisposable with fire-and-forget JS | Use IAsyncDisposable with await |

| Global window.* JS functions | Use collocated .razor.js with export |

| String element IDs passed to JS | Use ElementReference with @ref |

| [JSInvokable] on private method | Must be public — silently fails otherwise |

| DotNetObjectReference not disposed | Dispose in DisposeAsync — causes memory leak |

| StateHasChanged() without InvokeAsync | Wrap in await InvokeAsync(() => { StateHasChanged(); }) |

| JS invokeMethodAsync without error handling | Wrap in try/catch — circuit loss throws |

| Bare dotNetRef in JS event handlers | Wrap in a class with #dotNetRef private field |

| Magic strings in JS invokeMethodAsync calls | Use const at module top — typos silently fail at runtime |

| JS calls in OnParametersSetAsync | Track changes, apply in OnAfterRenderAsync with guard |

| No null check before calling module | Check module is not null before use |

How to use it

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