forwardRef

import React, { useRef, useEffect, RefObject, forwardRef } from "react";

interface FormProps {
  onSubmit?: (event: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => void;
}

const Form = forwardRef<HTMLFormElement, FormProps>((props, ref) => {
  const handleSubmit = (event: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
    event.preventDefault();
    console.log("Form submitted");
    if (props.onSubmit) {
      props.onSubmit(event);
    }
  };

  return (
    <form ref={ref} onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <label>
        First Name:
        <input type="text" name="firstName" />
      </label>
      <label>
        Last Name:
        <input type="text" name="lastName" />
      </label>
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
});

function App() {
  const formRef = useRef<HTMLFormElement>(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    console.log(formRef.current); // will log the form element
  }, []);

  return <Form ref={formRef} />;
}