Solving the cannot read property 'push' of undefined Error in ReactJS Hooks

Discover how to fix the `cannot read property 'push' of undefined` error when working with ReactJS hooks and routing in your dashboard app, ensuring smooth navigation!
---

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: Reactjs hooks cannot read property 'push' of undefined error

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Introduction

As a beginner developing a simple dashboard application in ReactJS, you might encounter various issues along the way. One common problem developers face is the "cannot read property 'push' of undefined" error when attempting to navigate to different pages using React Router. This can be frustrating, but with the right approach, it can be resolved easily.

In this guide, we will examine the source of this error and provide clear solutions to help you smoothly manage navigation in your React application.

Understanding the Error

When you receive the error message "cannot read property 'push' of undefined", it indicates that the history object, which is used for navigation, is not being recognized within the component attempting to use it. This typically occurs when:

The component you are trying to navigate from does not receive the history prop.

You are utilizing a hook like useHistory, but it is not set up correctly.

Scenario Overview

In your application, you have:

A BrowserRouter with defined routes directing to different components like Login, Home, and Home2.

A Deposits component that is expected to navigate to another page when an action (like a button click) occurs.

The issue arises when you attempt to use the history prop within the Deposits component, but it is not defined, resulting in the error mentioned above.

Solutions to Fix the Error

Option 1: Pass the history Prop

If your PrivateRoute component is set up to pass route props to the rendered components, you can manually pass the history object from Home to Deposits. Here's how you can do it:

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

This ensures that Deposits has access to the history object and can call push without issue.

Option 2: Use the useHistory Hook

Alternatively, you can harness the power of React Router's useHistory hook directly within the Deposits component. Follow these steps:

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

Call the useHistory hook inside the Deposits component:

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

Update the button click event to utilize the history object:

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

With this approach, you eliminate the need to pass history from parent components, making your Deposits component more self-contained and easier to manage.

Conclusion

Navigating within a ReactJS application using hooks and React Router can initially seem daunting, but understanding how to properly manage the history object is key to smooth transitions. By following one of the solutions outlined above, you can resolve the "cannot read property 'push' of undefined" error and enhance the functionality of your dashboard application.

Keep building and experimenting—happy coding!