React Hook Form with shadcn/ui

Build accessible, type-safe shadcn/ui forms with React Hook Form and Zod.

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The shadcn/ui Form component composes React Hook Form's FormProvider and Controller. It supplies accessible labels, descriptions, and error messages around shadcn/ui controls.

Installation

Add the shadcn/ui form primitives, then install the resolver and schema library used by this example:

npx shadcn@latest add form input button
npm install @hookform/resolvers zod

Complete example

"use client"

import { zodResolver } from "@hookform/resolvers/zod"
import { useForm } from "react-hook-form"
import { z } from "zod"
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
import {
  Form,
  FormControl,
  FormField,
  FormItem,
  FormLabel,
  FormMessage,
} from "@/components/ui/form"
import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input"

const schema = z.object({
  username: z.string().min(2, "Enter at least two characters"),
})

export function UsernameForm() {
  const form = useForm<z.infer<typeof schema>>({
    resolver: zodResolver(schema),
    defaultValues: { username: "" },
  })

  return (
    <Form {...form}>
      <form onSubmit={form.handleSubmit(console.log)}>
        <FormField
          control={form.control}
          name="username"
          render={({ field }) => (
            <FormItem>
              <FormLabel>Username</FormLabel>
              <FormControl>
                <Input {...field} />
              </FormControl>
              <FormMessage />
            </FormItem>
          )}
        />
        <Button type="submit">Save</Button>
      </form>
    </Form>
  )
}

Two different Form components

The shadcn/ui Form above provides React Hook Form context. It is different from React Hook Form's submission-oriented Form component, which can send values to an endpoint or Server Action.

Native and controlled inputs

Use register directly when a component exposes a native input ref and standard change events.
Use shadcn/ui FormField or React Hook Form's Controller for controlled components such as custom selects, date pickers, and switches.
Define every controlled field in defaultValues; avoid undefined as a controlled value.
Spread field onto the actual control so value, onChange, onBlur, name, and ref stay connected.

See the dedicated Zod guide, Controller, and FormProvider.