import { type Ref } from 'react';
/**
 * Custom hook to return children and children ref. Children must be a `HTML` or `SVG` element.
 *
 * It automatically merges internal and external refs.
 * @param children The children elements.
 * @param externalRef The external reference.
 * @group Hooks
 * @internal
 * @returns The element ref and the children with the ref.
 * @example
 * ```tsx
 * const { elementRef, elementChildren } = useChildrenRef(children, externalRef);
 * ```
 * @private
 * @description
 * This hook is used to return children and children ref. Children must be a `HTML` or `SVG` element.
 */
export declare function useChildrenRef<HTMLOrSVG extends HTMLElement | SVGElement>(children: unknown, externalRef?: Ref<HTMLOrSVG>): {
    elementRef: import("react").RefObject<HTMLOrSVG | null>;
    svgChildren: null;
    elementChildren?: undefined;
} | {
    elementRef: import("react").RefObject<HTMLOrSVG | null>;
    elementChildren: import("react").FunctionComponentElement<{
        ref: (node: HTMLOrSVG | null) => void;
    }>;
    svgChildren?: undefined;
};