Gifted Chat: Sending Media Without Text In React Native

Dec 1, 2025 by Alex Johnson 56 views

Are you experiencing issues with react-native-gifted-chat version 3.2.2 where you can't send media (like images or videos) without an accompanying text message? You're not alone! This article dives into the problem, explains why it happens, and provides a solution to ensure your users can seamlessly share media in your chat application.

The Issue: Empty Messages and Media in Gifted Chat 3.2.2

In react-native-gifted-chat version 3.2.2, the Send component has a built-in check that prevents sending messages with empty text. While this is a useful feature in many cases, it becomes problematic when you want to allow users to send media-only messages. Imagine a scenario where a user wants to share a quick image or video – they shouldn't be forced to type a message just to send the media!

The core of the issue lies within the Send.tsx file in the react-native-gifted-chat library. Specifically, this line of code:

if (onSend && message.text?.length)
  onSend(message, true);

This conditional statement checks if the onSend function exists and if the message text has a length greater than zero. If the text is empty, the onSend function is not called, effectively blocking the sending of the message, even if it contains media attachments.

This behavior can be frustrating for both developers and users. Developers need a way to customize this behavior to allow media-only messages, and users expect a smooth and intuitive chat experience where they can share various types of content without unnecessary restrictions.

Understanding the Code: A Closer Look at the `Send` Component

To fully grasp the solution, let's dissect the relevant code snippet from Send.tsx:

export const Send = <TMessage extends IMessage = IMessage>({
 text,
 containerStyle,
 children,
 textStyle,
 label = 'Send',
 isSendButtonAlwaysVisible = false,
 sendButtonProps,
 onSend,
}: SendProps<TMessage>) => {
 const colorScheme = useColorScheme()
 const opacity = useSharedValue(0)

 const handleOnPress = useCallback(() => {
 const message = { text: text?.trim() } as Partial<TMessage>

 if (onSend && message.text?.length) // This is the problematic line
 onSend(message, true)
 }, [text, onSend])

The Send component receives several props, including text (the message text), onSend (the function to call when sending a message), and isSendButtonAlwaysVisible. The handleOnPress function is triggered when the send button is pressed. It creates a message object with the trimmed text and then checks the condition if (onSend && message.text?.length). As we discussed, this condition prevents sending messages with empty text.

By understanding this code, we can identify the specific area that needs modification to achieve the desired behavior. The goal is to bypass this text length check when media attachments are present, allowing the message to be sent regardless of the text content.

The Solution: Overriding the `Send` Component

The provided solution involves overriding the default Send component with a custom implementation. This approach allows you to modify the behavior of the send button while still leveraging the core functionality of react-native-gifted-chat.

The solution presented utilizes the RenderSend prop of the GiftedChat component to replace the default Send component with a customized version.

Here's a breakdown of the solution:

Create a Custom RenderSend Component: This component will wrap the original Send component and modify its behavior.
```
const RenderSend = useCallback(
```

(props: SendProps) => { return ( <Send {...props} isSendButtonAlwaysVisible={ attachments.length > 0 || props?.text?.length > 0 } sendButtonProps={{}}

<IconButton onPress=() => { if (props.onSend) { // hack to enable append on image only no text props.onSend( { text props?.text.trim().length > 0 ? props?.text.trim() : '', , true ); } }} icon="send" iconColor={colors.onSurface} disabled={isUploadingAttachment} /> ); }, [attachments.length, colors.onSurface, isUploadingAttachment] ); ```

Control isSendButtonAlwaysVisible: The isSendButtonAlwaysVisible prop is used to control the visibility of the send button. In the custom RenderSend component, it's set to attachments.length > 0 || props?.text?.length > 0. This ensures the send button is visible if there are attachments or if there is text in the input.
Override onPress Handler: The core of the solution lies in overriding the onPress handler of the send button. Inside the custom onPress handler, the props.onSend function is called with a modified message object. The text property of the message object is conditionally set based on the presence of text in the input:
```
props.onSend(
```

text props?.text.trim().length > 0 ? props?.text.trim() : '', , true ); ```

If there is text, it's trimmed and used. If there is no text, an empty string is used. This effectively bypasses the original text length check in the `Send` component.

Integrate with GiftedChat: Finally, the custom RenderSend component is passed to the renderSend prop of the GiftedChat component.
```
<GiftedChat
```

... renderSend={RenderSend} ... /> ```

By implementing this solution, you effectively allow users to send messages with only media attachments, providing a more flexible and user-friendly chat experience.

Key Takeaways and Best Practices

Understanding Component Structure: This solution highlights the importance of understanding the structure and props of components in libraries like react-native-gifted-chat. By knowing how components interact, you can effectively customize their behavior.
Overriding for Customization: Overriding components is a powerful technique for tailoring libraries to your specific needs. However, it's essential to do it carefully and consider potential side effects.
Conditional Logic: The use of conditional logic in the onPress handler is crucial for ensuring the correct behavior in different scenarios (media-only messages vs. text messages).
Maintaining Compatibility: When overriding components, it's important to stay updated with library changes and ensure your customizations remain compatible with future versions.

Conclusion: Enhancing User Experience in Gifted Chat

By implementing the solution outlined in this article, you can overcome the limitation of sending media-only messages in react-native-gifted-chat version 3.2.2. This customization enhances the user experience by allowing users to share media seamlessly without being forced to type unnecessary text. Remember to test your customizations thoroughly and stay updated with library changes to ensure compatibility and maintain a smooth chat experience for your users.

For further information on React Native and related topics, you can explore resources like the official React Native documentation. This will help you deepen your understanding and stay updated with best practices.