React Router Doesn’t Work in AWS S3 Bucket

If you are facing issues with React Router not working when deploying your application to an AWS S3 bucket, you’re not alone. This problem often occurs due to the way AWS S3 handles routing and the need for additional configuration to support client-side routing in a single-page application (SPA) built with React.

When deploying a React application to an AWS S3 bucket, the default behavior of S3 is to treat each file as a separate object and not handle routing like a traditional web server. This can cause issues with React Router, as it relies on client-side routing using the HTML5 History API.

Solution 1: Configure AWS S3 Bucket for React Router

To make React Router work correctly in an AWS S3 bucket, you need to configure the bucket to redirect all requests to the index.html file. This ensures that the routing is handled by the React application instead of the S3 bucket.

To configure the bucket, follow these steps:

1. Open the AWS S3 Management Console and navigate to your bucket.
2. Click on the “Properties” tab.
3. Under “Static website hosting,” click on “Edit”.
4. Choose “Redirect requests” and enter the index.html file as the target.
5. Save the changes.

Once the bucket is configured, React Router should work as expected when accessing your application through the S3 bucket URL.

Solution 2: Use HashRouter Instead of BrowserRouter

If you prefer not to modify the AWS S3 bucket configuration, an alternative solution is to use the HashRouter instead of BrowserRouter provided by React Router.

The HashRouter uses the URL hash to simulate a full URL, allowing for client-side routing even in environments where the server does not handle URL routing correctly.

To use HashRouter, simply replace BrowserRouter with HashRouter in your React application’s entry file:

import { HashRouter as Router, Route, Switch } from 'react-router-dom';

ReactDOM.render(
  
    
      
      
      
    
  ,
  document.getElementById('root')
);
    

With HashRouter, your React application should work correctly when deployed to an AWS S3 bucket without requiring any additional configuration.

Conclusion

React Router not working in an AWS S3 bucket can be a frustrating issue, but with the right configuration or by using HashRouter, you can ensure that your client-side routing works as expected. Whether you choose to configure the S3 bucket or use HashRouter, both solutions will enable you to navigate through your React application seamlessly.

Remember, if you’re facing any other issues or have any questions related to JavaScript or web development, feel free to reach out to us at JS Duck. We’re here to help you!