Скачать или смотреть Solving the 404 Error in React Routes on Server Hosting

Learn how to troubleshoot and fix the `404` error in your React application when transitioning from localhost to server hosting.
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Troubleshooting 404 Errors in React Route Navigation

When developing a web application using React, encountering a 404 error can be frustrating, especially when everything works seamlessly on your localhost. This discrepancy often leaves developers puzzled, particularly when specific routes lead to 404 errors on the server while functioning perfectly in a local environment. In this guide, we'll explore common causes for this issue and provide a clear solution to get your routing back on track.

The Problem: Navigating to 404 on Server Hosting

In your scenario, it seems that upon clicking a button intended to navigate to the /start route, your application successfully redirects you to the desired page on localhost but returns a 404 error when hosted on your server. The setup includes a React application using the fetch API to handle requests, and utilizing an .htaccess configuration file for server-side rules.

One common reason for this error is due to the absence of proper routing handling in the server environment, particularly for React applications which rely heavily on client-side routing.

Why It Works Locally but Not on the Server

When you run your application on localhost, any route defined in your React application is interpreted correctly. However, when deploying it live, the server may not allow direct access to routes like /start because it doesn't recognize them as valid files or paths, hence returning a 404 error.

The reason behind this rests in how the web server serves files and handles requests; without proper configuration, it might not know to pass requests for /start to your index.html file, keeping the React app intact and functional.

The Solution: Properly Configuring .htaccess

To resolve the 404 error on your hosted environment, you need to configure your server to direct all requests for your React application back to the index.html file, effectively handling the routing. Below is a recommended configuration for your .htaccess file:

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

Breaking Down the Configuration

Options -MultiViews: This line disables MultiViews, which can lead to unexpected behaviors in routing.

RewriteEngine On: Activates the rewrite engine, allowing subsequent rules to take effect.

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f: Checks if the requested filename does not correspond to a real file on the server. This prevents the server from looking for non-existent files.

RewriteRule ^ index.html [QSA,L]: Redirects all requests to index.html. The QSA flag appends any query string from the original request, and L indicates that this should be the last rule processed if the rule is matched.

Implementing the Fix

Access your server's file management: Use an FTP client or your server's control panel to access the root directory of your website where the .htaccess file is located.

Edit or create a .htaccess file: If a .htaccess file does not already exist, create one. If it does, ensure you include the above configuration.

Test your application: Once updated, navigate to your /start route again. You should now be directed to the appropriate page without encountering a 404 error!

Conclusion

By correctly configuring your .htaccess file, you can effectively resolve the 404 errors stemming from improper routing in your React application when moving from a local development setting to a production server environment. Remember, handling routing is crucial for a seamless user experience on your live website!

Happy coding, and may your web applications navigate smoothly!