how to make pressable svg on react native

3 min read 24-09-2024

how to make pressable svg on react native

Creating interactive and visually appealing components in a mobile application is essential for improving user experience. One way to achieve this is by using SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) images in a React Native app. In this article, we will explore how to create pressable SVGs using React Native, which will allow users to interact with your app in a dynamic way.

Original Problem Code

If you are looking for a simple way to create a pressable SVG in React Native, the original concept might look something like this (in a very simplified form):

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';
import Svg, { Circle } from 'react-native-svg';

const MySvgComponent = () => {
    return (
        <View>
            <Svg height="100" width="100">
                <Circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" fill="blue" />
            </Svg>
        </View>
    );
};

export default MySvgComponent;

While this code correctly renders a blue circle, it doesn't allow users to interact with it. Let’s enhance it to make it pressable.

Enhancing SVG for Press Interaction

To make an SVG pressable in React Native, we can use the TouchableOpacity or TouchableWithoutFeedback component. Here’s how to do it:

import React from 'react';
import { View, TouchableOpacity, Alert } from 'react-native';
import Svg, { Circle } from 'react-native-svg';

const PressableSvgComponent = () => {
    const handlePress = () => {
        Alert.alert("SVG Pressed!", "You pressed the blue circle.");
    };

    return (
        <View>
            <TouchableOpacity onPress={handlePress}>
                <Svg height="100" width="100">
                    <Circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" fill="blue" />
                </Svg>
            </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
    );
};

export default PressableSvgComponent;

Explanation of the Enhanced Code

Importing Components: We import TouchableOpacity to make the SVG component interactive. This allows us to handle user touch events effectively.
Adding an Event Handler: We define a function handlePress that will trigger an alert when the SVG is pressed.
Wrapping the SVG: The TouchableOpacity wraps the SVG component, making the entire SVG clickable.

Practical Example

Imagine you're developing a fitness app and you want to create a custom button represented by a fitness-related SVG, such as a dumbbell icon. You can apply the same principles shown above to create a pressable SVG for this icon:

import React from 'react';
import { View, TouchableOpacity, Alert } from 'react-native';
import Svg, { Path } from 'react-native-svg';

const DumbbellButton = () => {
    const handlePress = () => {
        Alert.alert("Workout Ready!", "Let's get started with your workout.");
    };

    return (
        <View>
            <TouchableOpacity onPress={handlePress}>
                <Svg width="100" height="50" viewBox="0 0 100 50">
                    <Path d="M10 25 L40 25 L50 15 L60 15 L90 25 L60 35 L50 35 L40 25 Z" fill="green"/>
                </Svg>
            </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
    );
};

export default DumbbellButton;

In this example, we created a stylized dumbbell SVG. When the user taps the dumbbell, an alert pops up, enhancing interactivity.

Tips for Using SVG in React Native

Performance: While SVG is great for scalability, complex SVG images can affect performance. Optimize your SVG files using tools like SVGOMG to reduce their file size.
Animations: You can also use libraries like react-native-reanimated to create animations for SVGs, making them even more engaging.
Accessibility: Ensure that your pressable SVG components have accessibility features to make them usable for everyone.

Additional Resources

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can effectively create pressable SVG components in your React Native applications. This not only enhances the functionality of your app but also improves user engagement. Start implementing these techniques today and take your React Native projects to the next level!