Component cannot be used as a JSX component in React

The “Component cannot be used as a JSX component” error is a common issue that developers encounter when working with React. In this article, we’ll explore the causes of this error and provide solutions for resolving it.

Causes of the error “Component cannot be used as a JSX component in React”

There are several reasons why this error may occur:

• Returning an array of JSX elements instead of a single element.
• Returning any value other than a JSX element or null from a component.
• Forgetting to return a value from a component.
• Having outdated version of React typings.
• Using an undefined component as a JSX component.
• Using a non-JSX compatible component such as ‘intl-tel-input’ or ‘victoryaxis’ in React.

Solution 1: Wrapping the Array with a React Fragment or Div Element

One of the most common causes of the “Component cannot be used as a JSX component” error is returning an array of JSX elements instead of a single element. To solve this, we can wrap the array using a React fragment or a div element.

Here’s an example of how to use a React fragment to fix the error:

const App = () => {  return (    <>      {['a', 'b', 'c'].map(element => {        return <h2 key={element}>{element}</h2>;      })}    </>  );};export default App;

And here’s an example of how to use a div element:

const App = () => {  return (    <div>      {['a', 'b', 'c'].map(element => {        return <h2 key={element}>{element}</h2>;      })}    </div>  );};export default App;

Solution 2: Returning a Single JSX Element or Null

Another common cause of the “Component cannot be used as a JSX component” error is returning anything other than a JSX element or null from a component. To solve this, make sure that your component returns a single JSX element or null.

Here’s an example of how to return a single JSX element:

const App = () => {  return <h2>Hello World</h2>;};export default App;

And here’s an example of how to return null:

const App = () => {  if (someCondition) {    return <h2>Hello World</h2>;  } else {    return null;  }};export default App;

Solution 3: Updating React Typings

If you are sure that you are returning a single JSX element or null from your React component but the error persists, try updating your React typings. This is because, sometimes, the error may occur due to outdated React typings, which can cause compatibility issues.

To update React typings, open your terminal in the project’s root directory (where your package.json file is located) and run the following command:

# with NPMnpm install --save-dev @types/react@latest @types/react-dom@latest# if you also want to update react and react-domnpm install react@latest react-dom@latest# ------------------------------# with YARNyarn add @types/react@latest @types/react-dom@latest --dev# if you also want to update react and react-domyarn add react@latest react-dom@latest

This will update your React and React-dom typings to the latest version, which may resolve the “Component cannot be used as a JSX component” error. Make sure that you have the right package manager installed on your computer either npm or yarn.

It’s always a good practice to keep your dependencies up-to-date to ensure compatibility and stability in your application.

When updating the typings, it’s also a good idea to update the React and React-dom packages themselves by running the commands npm install react@latest react-dom@latest or yarn add react@latest react-dom@latest . This will help ensure that the latest version of React is being used and that the typings match the version of React that you are using.

Solution 4: Check if the component is defined

If you encounter this error with a specific component such as ‘_app.tsx‘, ‘stack.navigator‘ or ‘styled-component’ make sure that you have imported the component correctly and it is defined in your scope.

For example, in the case of ‘styled-component‘ for Jest, make sure that you have added the necessary setup for Jest to work with ‘styled-component‘ and that your test file is importing the correct version of the component.

Solution 5: Use JSX compatible components

If you are using a non-JSX compatible component such as ‘intl-tel-input’ or ‘victoryaxis’ in React, you will encounter this error. To fix this, you can use a JSX compatible version of the component or find an alternative component that is compatible with JSX.

Conclusion on Component cannot be used as a JSX component in React

The “Component cannot be used as a JSX component” error can be caused by a variety of reasons, but with the solutions provided in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your React application up and running again.

Remember to always check if the component is defined, use JSX compatible components, and make sure that you are returning a single JSX element or null from your component. Also, keep your React typings up to date.