Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla)
Show errors only when fields are interacted with (touched) or changed (dirty); improve UX with clear, timely feedback.
Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla) is a free React Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 3. 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 Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Why touched & dirty?
Goal: Show validation messages at the right time using touched (visited) and dirty (changed) markers.
Definitions
Touched: user focused then blurred a field. Dirty: field value differs from its initial value. Use them to time error display.
Demo: touched + dirty UX
We track touched on blur and dirty when value changes; errors appear after touch or on submit.
<div id="root"></div>
Timing messages
Show errors after a field is touched (blurred) or after submit. Use dirty to highlight changed fields.
Better feedback
Tips:
- Keep messages brief and specific.
- Don’t block typing; validate gently.
- Use color and proximity for clarity.
Pitfalls
Avoid:
- Showing all errors on first render.
- Hiding errors after submit.
- Mixing uncontrolled inputs with validation state.
Touched definition check
Recap
Recap: Use touched to time errors after interaction and dirty to flag changed fields; keep messages short and helpful.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla)” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla)” is free to read here on the web, and the React Academy course includes 3 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 Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla)”?
Show errors only when fields are interacted with (touched) or changed (dirty); improve UX with clear, timely feedback. You practise React 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 Academy?
No prior experience is required. React Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla)” 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 Academy lesson?
Yes. Every React 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
- Controlled Forms with Multiple Inputs
- Basic Validation Patterns & Submit Handling
- Error Messages & Touched/Dirty States (Vanilla)