How to Fix the 'Element type is invalid' Error in React Components

Learn how to resolve the "Element type is invalid" error in your React application when defining components, and understand the difference between named and default exports.
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Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: "Element type is invalid: expected a string" in the definition of my main component: export const Autocomplete = (props) = {....}

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How to Fix the "Element type is invalid" Error in React Components

If you're getting the error message "Element type is invalid: expected a string (for built-in components) or a class/function (for composite components) but got: undefined," you're not alone. This issue often points to a problem with the way you are importing your React components. Let's explore how to troubleshoot and fix this error effectively.

Understanding the Problem

You have defined a React component (in this case, Autocomplete) but are experiencing issues when trying to render it. The error indicates that there might be a misalignment between how you're exporting your component and how you're importing it.

Example Component Definition

First, let’s take a look at the component definition you shared:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You correctly defined your Autocomplete component as a named export.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

To resolve the error, you need to change the way components are imported based on how they are exported. Since Autocomplete is a named export, you need to import it correctly as follows:

Modify the Import Statement:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explaining Named vs Default Exports

To further understand this problem, let's break down the concepts of named and default exports.

Named Export/Import

Named exports allow you to export multiple members from a single file.

Here's how you do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When you import, you must use the same name:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Default Export/Import

A default export lets you export a single member from a file.

Here’s a simple example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When importing, you can name it whatever you wish:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Named and Default Export/Import Together

You can also have both types in a single file. For example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

And your import would look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By correcting your import reference from App to Autocomplete, you'll be able to fix the "Element type is invalid" error. Understanding the distinction between named and default exports is crucial to working effectively with React components. Now, you should be better equipped to avoid and troubleshoot similar errors in your React applications.

Happy coding!