
React Hooks for S3 Images and Videos
Managing media assets in React applications can be challenging, especially when working with AWS S3. Introducing React hooks for the same
Published Jan 17, 2025
Managing media assets in React applications can be challenging, especially when working with AWS S3. Today, I'm excited to share two powerful npm packages that simplify handling S3-hosted images and videos in your React applications:
react-s3-image-hook
and react-s3-video-hook
.When building modern web applications, efficiently handling media assets is crucial for performance and user experience. AWS S3 is a popular choice for storing these assets, but integrating it with React applications often requires:
- Complex setup with AWS SDK
- Managing authentication and permissions
- Handling loading and error states
- Implementing caching and optimization
- Ensuring type safety throughout the application
To address these challenges, I've developed two specialized React hooks that abstract away the complexity of S3 media management:
Both packages offer:
- Type Safety: Built with TypeScript for robust type checking and better developer experience
- React Query Integration: Efficient caching and request management out of the box
- AWS SDK v3 Support: Modern AWS SDK integration with improved performance and reduced bundle size
- Loading & Error States: Built-in state management for handling loading and error scenarios
- Simple API: Intuitive hook-based API that follows React best practices
- Zero Configuration: Works seamlessly with existing AWS credentials
These hooks are perfect for:
- Applications requiring secure access to S3-hosted media
- Projects using AWS SDK v3 and TypeScript
- Teams wanting to reduce boilerplate code for S3 media handling
- Applications needing efficient media caching and state management
Installing the packages is straightforward:
Both packages require
@aws-sdk/client-s3
and @tanstack/react-query
as peer dependencies.Before using the hooks, ensure your AWS credentials are properly configured. You can do this through:
- Environment variables
- AWS credentials file
- IAM roles (for AWS-hosted applications)
To get the most out of these hooks:
- Implement Error Boundaries: Wrap your components using these hooks in error boundaries for graceful error handling
- Use Suspense: Both hooks work great with React Suspense for improved loading states
- Configure React Query: Customize React Query settings for optimal caching behavior
- Monitor Usage: Keep an eye on S3 requests to optimize costs and performance