How to Fix useHistory Hook Issues in React Router Dom

Learn how to resolve the `useHistory` hook recognition problem in React Router Dom by transitioning to the new `useNavigate` hook. Get step-by-step insights!
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This video is based on the question stackoverflow.com/q/76331913/ asked by the user 'Satya sai Subash' ( stackoverflow.com/u/21952228/ ) and on the answer stackoverflow.com/a/76332007/ provided by the user 'Maulik Patel' ( stackoverflow.com/u/21957513/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Introduction

Are you encountering an issue with the useHistory hook in React Router Dom? Many developers face this problem, often feeling frustrated when their navigation logic doesn't work as expected. You’re not alone if you’ve seen the error messages, even after properly installing the react-router-dom package. In this guide, we will explore the root cause of this issue and provide you with a clear solution.

Understanding the Problem

The primary reason for encountering the useHistory hook not being recognized is that its usage has been deprecated in the latest versions of react-router-dom. This change is essential for simplifying navigation in your React applications. As a result, the useNavigate hook has been introduced as its replacement.

When attempting to import useHistory, you might have noticed that it can sometimes lead to a blank page on your application after a reload due to issues with routing.

Here’s a brief overview of the situation:

Error Message: ‘useHistory is not found.’

Possible Cause: Usage of an outdated hook in the current version of react-router-dom.

Expected Outcome: Seamless navigation without errors.

The Solution: Transitioning to useNavigate

To fix the issues related to the useHistory hook, you should transition to the useNavigate hook. Below are the detailed steps to implement this solution effectively.

Step 1: Import useNavigate

First, ensure you import the useNavigate hook from react-router-dom:

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Step 2: Initialize the Navigate Function

Replace the instance of useHistory with useNavigate as shown below. This method will generate the navigate function needed for navigation.

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Step 3: Update Navigation Logic

Instead of using history.push('/chats'), simply call navigate('/chats') within your logic. For example:

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Step 4: Complete Example

Here's a quick look at how your component may look after making these changes:

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Conclusion

Updating from useHistory to useNavigate not only resolves the issues you’ve been experiencing but also aligns your code with the latest standards in React Router Dom. This new approach simplifies navigation and can potentially enhance the maintainability of your code.

If you follow the steps outlined above, you should be able to navigate seamlessly within your application without encountering blank screens or error messages. Happy coding!