# Introduction

> This document is the Markdown version of [formisch.dev/react-native/guides/introduction/](https://formisch.dev/react-native/guides/introduction/). For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://formisch.dev/llms.txt).

Formisch is a schema-based, headless form library for React Native. It manages form state and validation. It is type-safe, fast by default and its bundle size is small due to its modular design. Try it out in our [playground](/playground/login/)!

## Highlights

- Small bundle size starting at 2.5 kB
- Schema-based validation with Valibot
- Type safety with autocompletion in editor
- Open source and fully tested with 100 % coverage
- It's fast – re-renders only if necessary
- Minimal, readable and well thought out API
- Supports native `TextInput` fields

## Example

Every form starts with the [`useForm`](/react-native/api/useForm.md) hook. It initializes your form's store based on the provided Valibot schema and infers its types. Unlike the DOM frameworks, React Native has no native form element or submit event, so there is no `<Form />` component and submission is triggered explicitly with [`handleSubmit`](/methods/api/handleSubmit.md), for example from a button's `onPress` or a text input's `onSubmitEditing` handler. You can access the state of a field with the [`useField`](/react-native/api/useField.md) hook or the [`<Field />`](/react-native/api/Field.md) component to connect your `TextInput`.

```tsx
import { Field, handleSubmit, useForm } from '@formisch/react-native';
import { Button, Text, TextInput, View } from 'react-native';
import * as v from 'valibot';

const LoginSchema = v.object({
  email: v.pipe(v.string(), v.email()),
  password: v.pipe(v.string(), v.minLength(8)),
});

export default function LoginScreen() {
  const loginForm = useForm({
    schema: LoginSchema,
  });

  const submitForm = handleSubmit(loginForm, (output) => console.log(output));

  return (
    <View>
      <Field of={loginForm} path={['email']}>
        {(field) => (
          <View>
            <TextInput
              {...field.props}
              value={field.input}
              autoCapitalize="none"
              keyboardType="email-address"
            />
            {field.errors && <Text>{field.errors[0]}</Text>}
          </View>
        )}
      </Field>
      <Field of={loginForm} path={['password']}>
        {(field) => (
          <View>
            <TextInput {...field.props} value={field.input} secureTextEntry />
            {field.errors && <Text>{field.errors[0]}</Text>}
          </View>
        )}
      </Field>
      <Button title="Login" onPress={submitForm} />
    </View>
  );
}
```

In addition, Formisch offers several functions (we call them "methods") that can be used to read and manipulate the form state. These include [`focus`](/methods/api/focus.md), [`getDeepErrors`](/methods/api/getDeepErrors.md), [`getErrors`](/methods/api/getErrors.md), [`getInput`](/methods/api/getInput.md), [`handleSubmit`](/methods/api/handleSubmit.md), [`insert`](/methods/api/insert.md), [`move`](/methods/api/move.md), [`remove`](/methods/api/remove.md), [`replace`](/methods/api/replace.md), [`reset`](/methods/api/reset.md), [`setErrors`](/methods/api/setErrors.md), [`setInput`](/methods/api/setInput.md), [`swap`](/methods/api/swap.md) and [`validate`](/methods/api/validate.md). These methods allow you to control the form programmatically.

## Comparison

What makes Formisch unique is its framework-agnostic core, which is fully native to the framework you are using. It works by inserting framework-specific reactivity blocks when the library is built, giving you native performance for any UI update. A modular methods API keeps bundles starting at just ~2.5 kB by only including the methods you import, and end-to-end type safety covers deeply nested paths and field arrays with TypeScript inference that stays fast even as forms grow.

For a side-by-side look at how Formisch compares to React Hook Form and TanStack Form, see the [comparison guide](/react-native/guides/comparison.md).

## Vision

My vision for Formisch is to create a framework-agnostic platform similar to [Vite](https://vite.dev/), but for forms — a shared core that lets the same mental model and codebase work natively across every modern UI framework.

## Feedback

Find a bug or have an idea how to improve the library? Please fill out an [issue](https://github.com/open-circle/formisch/issues/new). Together we can make forms even better!

## License

This project is available free of charge and licensed under the [MIT license](https://github.com/open-circle/formisch/blob/main/LICENSE.md).