How to Resolve ‘History.push is Not a Function’ Error in React

Navigating through the pages of a web application smoothly enhances user experience significantly. React Router, a core library in React ecosystem, plays a pivotal role in handling routing dynamically. It renders the appropriate child components based on the current location, ensuring that the application responds correctly to the current URL. However, developers often encounter a common error: ‘history.push is not a function’. This error can be a stumbling block, especially when you’re trying to programmatically navigate between components.

This blog aims to dissect the error, understand its causes, and provide actionable solutions to fix it. By the end of this read, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to handle the ‘history.push is not a function’ error and ensure seamless navigation in your React applications.

Understanding the history object

The history object is a cornerstone in the architecture of React Router. It facilitates programmatic navigation, allowing developers to manipulate the session history of the browser. This object maintains a history stack, enabling the pushing and popping of routes as users navigate through an application. The history object's properties, such as location and match, are crucial for ensuring that components re-render accurately as routing changes occur.

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import { useHistory } from "react-router-dom";

function NavigateButton() {
  let history = useHistory();

  function handleClick() {
    history.push("/home");
  }

  return (
    <button type="button" onClick={handleClick}>
      {" "}
      Go home{" "}
    </button>
  );
}

In the snippet above, useHistory from react-router-dom is used to access the history object within a functional component. The handleClick function then utilizes the push method to navigate to the home route.

Causes of the Error

Encountering the ‘history.push is not a function’ error can be attributed to several factors. Primarily, it arises when the history object is not correctly imported or utilized within a component. This issue is prevalent among developers working with outdated versions of React Router or those who have mistakenly imported the history object.

Another frequent cause is attempting to use the history object outside the confines of a React component, which violates the principles of React’s component-based architecture. Additionally, incorrect usage of the history object’s properties or methods can trigger this error, highlighting the importance of understanding and adhering to the React Router’s API documentation. Incorrect usage of the location prop can also lead to errors, especially when it overrides the default behavior of matching child elements based on the current location within <Switch> components.

Using react router withRouter and useHistory

To circumvent the ‘history.push is not a function’ error, developers have two primary tools at their disposal: withRouter and useHistory.

withRouter is a higher-order component that wraps an existing component, granting it access to the history object among other route props. This method is particularly useful for class components or when deep integration with the router is necessary. The withRouter higher-order component ensures that the wrapped component re-renders whenever the route changes, providing the most up-to-date routing information.

Additionally, the component prop can be used to render custom navigation components. By passing a component through the component prop, developers can achieve specific rendering behavior, which takes precedence over other props like 'render'.

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import React from "react";
import { withRouter } from "react-router-dom";

class NavigateButton extends React.Component {
  handleClick = () => {
    this.props.history.push("/home");
  };

  render() {
    return (
      <button type="button" onClick={this.handleClick}>
        {" "}
        Go home{" "}
      </button>
    );
  }
}

export default withRouter(NavigateButton);

On the other hand, useHistory is a hook introduced in React Router v5, enabling functional components to access the history object directly. This hook simplifies the process of programmatically navigating routes.

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import { useHistory } from "react-router-dom";

function HomeButton() {
  let history = useHistory();

  function handleClick() {
    history.push("/home");
  }

  return (
    <button type="button" onClick={handleClick}>
      {" "}
      Go home{" "}
    </button>
  );
}

Both methods are effective in resolving the ‘history.push is not a function’ error, with the choice between them depending on the specific requirements of your project and the type of components you are working with.

Troubleshooting and Best Practices

When faced with the ‘history.push is not a function’ error, the first step in troubleshooting should be to verify the version of React Router being used. Ensure that it is up to date and compatible with the rest of your project’s dependencies. Next, confirm that the history object is being imported correctly, using either withRouter for class components or the useHistory hook for functional components. Understanding the current URL is also crucial, as various components and hooks depend on it to determine which UI to render or to trigger specific actions in response to URL changes.

It’s crucial to remember that the history object should only be used within the scope of a React component. Attempting to access it outside this context can lead to unexpected errors and behaviors. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the object’s properties and methods to avoid misuse that could trigger errors. The route path plays a significant role in controlling what renders when a particular URL is accessed, helping manage exclusive versus inclusive route rendering.

Conclusion

Adhering to best practices, such as using the recommended method for your component type and ensuring deep integration with React Router, can prevent the occurrence of the ‘history.push is not a function’ error. By following these guidelines, developers can leverage the full potential of React Router for programmatic navigation, enhancing the user experience of their applications. The render method is essential in handling child elements, especially in React versions earlier than 16, where it must return a single child element.