ReactJs

React Native Push Notifications: A Complete Guide

Posted on by thuan

React Native is a popular framework for building mobile apps, and push notifications are a crucial feature of any mobile app. In this article, we’ll explore how to implement push notifications in React Native and provide a complete guide to help you get started.

What are Push Notifications?

Push notifications are messages that are sent to a user’s device from a server or app. They are typically used to notify users of important information, such as new messages, updates, or events. Push notifications can be sent even when the app is not open, making them a powerful tool for engaging users and keeping them informed.

How to Implement Push Notifications in React Native

Implementing push notifications in React Native involves several steps, including setting up a server, configuring the app, and handling notifications in the app. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Set Up a Server

To send push notifications to your app, you’ll need to set up a server that can communicate with the app’s push notification service. There are several options available for this, including Firebase Cloud Messaging, Amazon SNS, and OneSignal.

Step 2: Configure the App

Once you have set up your server, you’ll need to configure your React Native app to receive push notifications. This involves installing and configuring the necessary libraries and configuring the app’s permissions.

Install Libraries

To receive push notifications in your React Native app, you’ll need to install the following libraries:

  • react-native-push-notification: A library for handling push notifications in React Native.
  • react-native-permissions: A library for handling permissions in React Native.

You can install these libraries using npm or yarn:

java
npm install react-native-push-notification react-native-permissions --save

Configure Permissions

Before your app can receive push notifications, you’ll need to configure the necessary permissions. This involves adding the following code to your AndroidManifest.xml and Info.plist files:

xml
<!-- AndroidManifest.xml -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />

<!-- Info.plist -->
<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
<array>
    <string>remote-notification</string>
</array>

Step 3: Handle Notifications in the App

Once your app is configured to receive push notifications, you’ll need to handle them in the app. This involves adding code to your app’s JavaScript file to handle incoming notifications.

Import Libraries

To handle push notifications in your app, you’ll need to import the following libraries:

javascript
import PushNotification from 'react-native-push-notification';
import { Alert } from 'react-native';

Configure Push Notification Service

Before you can receive push notifications in your app, you’ll need to configure the push notification service. This involves calling the configure method on the PushNotification library:

javascript
PushNotification.configure({
  // Called when a new token or registration is received
  onRegister: function (token) {
    console.log('TOKEN:', token);
  },

  // Called when a notification is received while the app is open
  onNotification: function (notification) {
    console.log('NOTIFICATION:', notification);

    Alert.alert(notification.title, notification.message);
  },

  // Called when the app is opened from a notification
  onOpenNotification: function (notification) {
    console.log('OPEN NOTIFICATION:', notification);
  },

  // Android only: GCM or FCM Sender ID
  senderID: 'YOUR_SENDER_ID',

Step 4: Send Push Notifications

Now that your app is configured to receive push notifications, you’ll need to send notifications from your server or backend. This involves sending a request to the push notification service with the necessary information, such as the notification title and message.

Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

If you’re using Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) as your push notification service, you can send notifications using the Firebase Cloud Messaging HTTP API. Here’s an example of how to send a notification using the curl command:

vbnet
curl -X POST -H "Authorization: key=YOUR_SERVER_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{
    "notification": {
        "title": "New Message",
        "body": "You have a new message"
    },
    "to": "YOUR_DEVICE_TOKEN"
}' "https://fcm.googleapis.com/fcm/send"

Replace YOUR_SERVER_KEY with your Firebase Cloud Messaging server key, and YOUR_DEVICE_TOKEN with the device token that was generated when your app registered with the push notification service.

Amazon SNS

If you’re using Amazon SNS as your push notification service, you can send notifications using the Amazon SNS API. Here’s an example of how to send a notification using the AWS CLI:

swift
aws sns publish --topic-arn "YOUR_TOPIC_ARN" --message "{
    \"default\": \"New Message\",
    \"APNS\": \"{\\\"aps\\\":{\\\"alert\\\":\\\"You have a new message\\\",\\\"sound\\\":\\\"default\\\"}}\",
    \"GCM\": \"{\\\"notification\\\":{\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Message\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"You have a new message\\\"}}\"
}"

Replace YOUR_TOPIC_ARN with the Amazon SNS topic ARN that corresponds to your app.

Conclusion

In conclusion, push notifications are a powerful tool for engaging users and keeping them informed. With React Native, implementing push notifications is easy, but it requires several steps, including setting up a server, configuring the app, and handling notifications in the app. By following this guide, you can get started with push notifications in your React Native app and start engaging your users today!

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