Resolving the Element type is invalid Error in Webpack Projects with React Error

Learn how to fix the common `Element type is invalid: expected a string or class/function` error in your React components built with Webpack, and explore an alternative solution using Rollup.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/72016274/ asked by the user 'Aliaga Aliyev' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8104084/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/72129824/ provided by the user 'Aliaga Aliyev' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8104084/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Resolving the Element type is invalid Error in Webpack Projects with React

When working with Webpack and React, you might encounter an error that states:

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This error typically arises when you are trying to import and use a React component that is incorrectly bundled or exported. In this post, we will dive into the reasons behind this issue and provide a solution to successfully build and import your custom components.

Understanding the Problem

You might be developing a custom React component, like a Button, that you intend to use in your application. After configuring Webpack to bundle your component, you attempt to import it in your main application file, only to face the confusing error message.

Here is a common scenario you might encounter:

Example Code

Your Custom Component (/packages/button/src/index.js)

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Webpack Configuration (webpack.config.js)

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Importing in Your Application (App.js)

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The error you encounter indicates that the exported component might not be in the expected format.

The Solution: Switch to Rollup

To resolve this issue, many developers have found success by switching from Webpack to Rollup, which is known for its simplicity in handling component libraries and applications. Here's how you can set up Rollup to bundle your component correctly.

New Rollup Configuration (rollup.config.js)

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Breakdown of Key Changes

Dependencies Handling: By using rollup-plugin-node-resolve, your Rollup build can locate third-party libraries like React and ReactDOM.

Transpiling JSX: The rollup-plugin-babel allows for seamless transpilation of React components, ensuring compatibility across different environments.

Output Format: The use of CommonJS format (exports: 'default') ensures that your component can be imported smoothly.

Simplified Configuration: Rollup generally has a cleaner configuration that can be easier to manage when creating libraries.

Conclusion

In conclusion, encountering the Element type is invalid error can be frustrating, but switching from Webpack to Rollup can be an effective solution for bundling your React components. By applying the changes outlined in this post, you will be well on your way to crafting robust React applications without running into this issue again. Happy coding!