# `react-doctor/no-mutate-then-set-or-return-same-reference`

State mutated in place then set by same reference

- **Category:** Bugs
- **Severity:** warn
- **Source:** oxlint-plugin-react-doctor
- **Framework:** global
- **Enabled when:** react

## Validate the diagnostic

Confirm the reported code matches this rule before you edit it.

Confirm the reported code matches `react-doctor/no-mutate-then-set-or-return-same-reference`. Compare it with the Before example and verify the same API, framework, and execution context. Treat it as a false positive only when one of those conditions differs.

## Compare the code

The corrected pattern shows a focused way to address the diagnostic.

### Reported pattern

```tsx
const List = ({ nextRow }) => {
  const [rows, setRows] = useState([]);
  const addRow = () => {
    setRows((currentRows) => {
      currentRows.push(nextRow);
      return currentRows;
    });
  };
  return <button onClick={addRow}>{rows.length}</button>;
};
```

### Corrected pattern

```tsx
const List = ({ nextRow }) => {
  const [rows, setRows] = useState([]);
  const addRow = () => {
    setRows((currentRows) => [...currentRows, nextRow]);
  };
  return <button onClick={addRow}>{rows.length}</button>;
};
```

## How to fix

Use the corrected pattern as a reference. Preserve behavior that the rule does not require you to change.

### Copyable fix prompt

Copy this self-contained prompt into your coding agent after you confirm the diagnostic.

````text
Fix every confirmed `react-doctor/no-mutate-then-set-or-return-same-reference` diagnostic in the current repository.

Required change:
- Copy state before mutating it, then pass the fresh reference to the matching useState setter.

Reference transformation:

Before:
```tsx
const List = ({ nextRow }) => {
  const [rows, setRows] = useState([]);
  const addRow = () => {
    setRows((currentRows) => {
      currentRows.push(nextRow);
      return currentRows;
    });
  };
  return <button onClick={addRow}>{rows.length}</button>;
};
```

After:
```tsx
const List = ({ nextRow }) => {
  const [rows, setRows] = useState([]);
  const addRow = () => {
    setRows((currentRows) => [...currentRows, nextRow]);
  };
  return <button onClick={addRow}>{rows.length}</button>;
};
```

Constraints:
- Confirm the reported code matches the Before pattern.
- Make the smallest change that fixes the root cause.
- Preserve behavior and interfaces unrelated to this diagnostic.
- Reuse existing project components, utilities, and conventions.
- Do not introduce render-phase side effects, render-phase state updates, or Hooks rule violations.
- Adapt identifiers and framework details instead of copying blindly.
- Do not disable the rule or suppress matching code.
- Confirm this rule is enabled for the project: `react`.

Verification:
- Run focused tests for the changed behavior.
- Run React Doctor and confirm this diagnostic no longer appears.
- Report the files changed and any checks you could not run.
````