Pull-to-Refresh and Load More
Implement onRefresh with RefreshControl to let users pull down to reload data, and use onEndReached to fetch the next page of results.
Pull-to-Refresh and Load More is a free React Native Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the React Native Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Why Pull-to-Refresh?
Pull-to-refresh is a mobile-native gesture where the user pulls the list downward to trigger a data reload. It signals to the app that new content should be fetched from the server. React Native's FlatList has built-in support for this gesture through the onRefresh and refreshing props.
The refreshing and onRefresh Props
FlatList's pull-to-refresh requires two props: refreshing (a boolean that shows or hides the spinner) and onRefresh (a callback that runs your data-fetch logic). Set refreshing to true when the fetch starts and back to false when it completes.
const [refreshing, setRefreshing] = useState(false);
const onRefresh = async () => {
setRefreshing(true);
await fetchData();
setRefreshing(false);
};
<FlatList
data={items}
renderItem={renderItem}
keyExtractor={(item) => item.id}
refreshing={refreshing}
onRefresh={onRefresh}
/>Using RefreshControl for Custom Styling
For more control over the spinner's appearance, use the refreshControl prop with a RefreshControl component. This lets you set the spinner's tintColor (iOS) and colors (Android), and even add a custom progressViewOffset for apps with fixed headers.
import { RefreshControl } from 'react-native';
<FlatList
data={items}
renderItem={renderItem}
keyExtractor={(item) => item.id}
refreshControl={
<RefreshControl
refreshing={refreshing}
onRefresh={onRefresh}
tintColor='#6200ee'
colors={['#6200ee', '#03dac5']}
/>
}
/>Infinite Scroll with onEndReached
Infinite scroll (load more / pagination) fetches additional data when the user approaches the bottom of the list. FlatList fires the onEndReached callback when the user scrolls within onEndReachedThreshold of the end. A threshold of 0.5 triggers the callback when the user is halfway to the end.
const [page, setPage] = useState(1);
const [items, setItems] = useState([]);
const loadMore = async () => {
const newItems = await fetchPage(page + 1);
setItems(prev => [...prev, ...newItems]);
setPage(prev => prev + 1);
};
<FlatList
data={items}
renderItem={renderItem}
keyExtractor={(item) => item.id}
onEndReached={loadMore}
onEndReachedThreshold={0.5}
/>Preventing Duplicate Load Calls
onEndReached can fire multiple times in quick succession as the user scrolls. Guard against duplicate fetches with a loading flag. Check the flag at the start of your load function and return early if a fetch is already in progress. Reset the flag once the data is loaded.
const [loadingMore, setLoadingMore] = useState(false);
const loadMore = async () => {
if (loadingMore) return; // guard against duplicates
setLoadingMore(true);
const newItems = await fetchPage(page + 1);
setItems(prev => [...prev, ...newItems]);
setPage(prev => prev + 1);
setLoadingMore(false);
};Footer Spinner for Load More
Show an ActivityIndicator in the ListFooterComponent while the next page is loading. Hide it when all pages are loaded. This gives users a visual cue that more content is coming and prevents them from repeatedly scrolling to try to load more when it is already loading.
const renderFooter = () => {
if (!loadingMore) return null;
return <ActivityIndicator style={{ padding: 16 }} />;
};
<FlatList
data={items}
renderItem={renderItem}
keyExtractor={(item) => item.id}
onEndReached={loadMore}
onEndReachedThreshold={0.5}
ListFooterComponent={renderFooter}
/>Detecting End of Data
Keep a hasMore boolean in state. When your API returns fewer items than the page size, you know there are no more pages. Set hasMore to false and guard the loadMore function with this check. Also update the footer to show an 'End of list' message instead of a spinner.
const [hasMore, setHasMore] = useState(true);
const loadMore = async () => {
if (loadingMore || !hasMore) return;
setLoadingMore(true);
const newItems = await fetchPage(page + 1);
if (newItems.length < PAGE_SIZE) setHasMore(false);
setItems(prev => [...prev, ...newItems]);
setPage(prev => prev + 1);
setLoadingMore(false);
};Combining Refresh and Load More
Pull-to-refresh and load more can coexist in the same FlatList. On refresh, reset the page to 1, clear the existing items, fetch the first page, and reset hasMore to true. The two flows are independent and use separate loading states so they do not interfere with each other.
const onRefresh = async () => {
setRefreshing(true);
setPage(1);
setHasMore(true);
const freshData = await fetchPage(1);
setItems(freshData);
setRefreshing(false);
};onEndReachedThreshold Best Practices
The onEndReachedThreshold value is a fraction of the visible list height, not a pixel value. Setting it to 0.2 triggers loading when 20% of the list content remains visible below the screen. A higher value starts loading earlier for slower APIs; a lower value is better for fast API responses.
// Trigger load more when 20% of list remains
<FlatList
onEndReached={loadMore}
onEndReachedThreshold={0.2}
/>Scroll Position After Refresh
After a refresh replaces the data array, FlatList may retain the old scroll position, making the new content invisible. Call flatListRef.current.scrollToOffset({ offset: 0, animated: true }) after setting fresh data to bring the list back to the top for a polished user experience.
const flatListRef = useRef(null);
const onRefresh = async () => {
setRefreshing(true);
const freshData = await fetchPage(1);
setItems(freshData);
flatListRef.current?.scrollToOffset({ offset: 0, animated: true });
setRefreshing(false);
};Testing Pull-to-Refresh on Emulator
On iOS Simulator, pull-to-refresh works with a trackpad two-finger swipe down on the list. On Android Emulator, click and drag down from a list item. On a physical device, the gesture is natural. Always test both platforms because iOS uses a native spinner while Android uses its own Material-style indicator.
Quick Check
Test your understanding of pull-to-refresh and infinite scroll from this lesson.
Lesson Recap
In this lesson you learned: use the refreshing and onRefresh props to implement pull-to-refresh, use onEndReached with onEndReachedThreshold for infinite scroll, and guard loadMore with a loading flag to prevent duplicate API calls. Next up we explore SectionList for grouped data with headers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Pull-to-Refresh and Load More” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Pull-to-Refresh and Load More” is free to read here on the web, and the React Native Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the React Native Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Pull-to-Refresh and Load More”?
Implement onRefresh with RefreshControl to let users pull down to reload data, and use onEndReached to fetch the next page of results. You practise React Native Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start React Native Academy?
No prior experience is required. React Native Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Pull-to-Refresh and Load More” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this React Native Academy lesson?
Yes. Every React Native Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- FlatList Data, renderItem, and keyExtractor
- Pull-to-Refresh and Load More
- SectionList with Headers
- Building a Contacts List App