Detect previous path in react router?

Question

I am using react router. I want to detect the previous page (within the same app) from where I am coming from. I have the router in my context. But, I don't see any properties like "previous path" or history on the router object. How do I do it?

Answer 1

You can save previous path in a componentWillReceiveProps lifecycle method. The logic is very close to the example provided in troubleshooting section of react-router docs.

<Route component={App}>
  {/* ... other routes */}
</Route>

const App = React.createClass({
  getInitialState() {
    return { prevPath: '' }
  },

  componentWillReceiveProps(nextProps) {
    if (nextProps.location !== this.props.location) {
      this.setState({ prevPath: this.props.location })
    }
  }
})

And lately, access it from the state.

Detect previous path in react router?

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