Registry / testing / react-native-fetch-polyfill

react-native-fetch-polyfill

library1.1.3jsnpmunverified

A polyfill for React Native's fetch that adds timeout support. Currently at version 1.1.3 (stable, low release cadence). It patches the default fetch implementation from whatwg-fetch to expose the native XMLHttpRequest timeout property, which is otherwise inaccessible. Unlike alternatives like react-native-fetch-api or custom wrappers, this polyfill directly modifies the global fetch, providing seamless integration. Requires react-native >=0.27.

testing devops

npm install react-native-fetch-polyfill

github ↗package ↗homepage ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · REACT-NATIVE-FETCH

react-native-fetch-polyfill

testingjavascriptv1.1.3

harness data pending

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

No compatibility data collected yet for this library.

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

default (fetch)

✓ import fetch from 'react-native-fetch-polyfill';

✗ import { fetch } from 'react-native-fetch-polyfill';

The module exports a default fetch function, not a named export. CommonJS require works: const fetch = require('react-native-fetch-polyfill');

fetch as global override

✓ import fetch from 'react-native-fetch-polyfill'; // Will polyfill global fetch automatically if used before other fetch calls.

✗ Global fetch is not automatically replaced; you must explicitly import the polyfill and use the returned fetch function.

The polyfill does not modify global fetch; you must assign it yourself if you want global usage.

TypeScript type

✓ import fetch from 'react-native-fetch-polyfill'; // No types provided; you may need to declare module or use @types/react-native-fetch-polyfill if available.

✗ Not a mistake, but type definitions are missing. Cast to any or install @types.

Package has no TypeScript types. For type safety, create a declaration file or use a custom wrapper.

Demonstrates importing the polyfill and using the timeout option in a fetch request with error handling for timeouts.

import fetch from 'react-native-fetch-polyfill'; const url = 'https://api.example.com/data'; const options = { method: 'GET', headers: { 'Accept': 'application/json' }, timeout: 30000, // 30 seconds }; fetch(url, options) .then(response => response.json()) .then(data => console.log(data)) .catch(error => { if (error.name === 'AbortError') { console.log('Request timed out'); } else { console.log('Fetch error:', error); } });

Debug

Known issues

gotchaThe polyfill does NOT automatically override the global fetch; you must import and call the returned fetch explicitly.

fix

Import the polyfill and assign it: import fetch from 'react-native-fetch-polyfill'; then use fetch(...) instead of global fetch.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaTimeout option is only supported for React Native's native networking; it will not work in environments like Expo's managed workflow unless you eject.

fix

If using Expo managed, consider using the AbortController polyfill or a custom timeout implementation.

affects: >=1.0.0

deprecatedPackage is in maintenance mode; no active development since 2017. Consider using react-native-fetch-api or AbortController for modern timeout support.

fix

Upgrade to react-native-fetch-api or use the AbortController polyfill (available in React Native 0.50+).

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaThe polyfill patches internal functions of whatwg-fetch; may break if React Native updates its fetch implementation.

fix

Test after RN upgrades; check for compatibility issues.

affects: >=1.0.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

TypeError: Network request failed

The timeout was reached and the native layer rejected the request with a generic network error.

fix

Handle the error by checking for a timeout: if (error.message === 'Network request failed') { /* timeout logic */ }

undefined is not an object (evaluating 'fetch.timeout')

Trying to access the timeout property on the fetch function, but the polyfill expects the timeout in the options object.

fix

Pass timeout as part of the second argument (options): fetch(url, { timeout: 10000 })

Upgrade

Version history

1.1.3latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

react-nativerequiredPeer dependency; polyfill relies on React Native's networking module (RCTNetworking).

Agent activity

7 hits · last 30 days

node

Amazon

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/robinpowered/react-native-fetch-polyfill ↗

packagereact-native-fetch-polyfill ↗

homepagehttps://github.com/robinpowered/react-native-fetch-polyfill#readme ↗