React Native Expo Camera | Tutorial

Learn how to integrate the camera in a React Native app with Expo. I cover requesting camera and media library permissions, taking photos with flash, and switching between front and back cameras. Ideal if you want camera features in Expo apps.

I also explain saving photos to the device and basic state for camera, flash, and captured images. Code and dependencies are included so you can replicate the project.

What's inside

• Introduction and camera app demo
• Expo project installation and setup
• Requesting camera and media library permissions
• State variables for camera, flash, and image
• Camera component configuration with props and ref
• Taking photos, toggling flash, and switching cameras
• Saving photos to the library and showing alerts
• Retake or save options after capture

Introduction and camera app demo

The demo runs on a real device: capture button, flash toggle, front/back switch, retake, and save to gallery.

It shows what you can build with Expo Camera and what the UX feels like.

Expo project installation and setup

Create a project with expo init and the blank template. Install expo-camera and expo-media-library.

Run expo start and open the project in Visual Studio Code before adding camera code.

Requesting camera and media library permissions

The app requests permissions with Camera.requestCameraPermissionsAsync() and MediaLibrary.requestPermissionsAsync().

A useEffect requests permissions on mount. hasPermission tracks the user's response.

State variables for camera, flash, and image

useState manages:

• hasPermission: whether permissions were granted
• image: URI of the captured photo
• type: front or back camera (Camera.Constants.Type.back or .front)
• flash: flash mode (Camera.Constants.FlashMode.off or .on)

useRef holds the camera instance for capture.

Camera component configuration with props and ref

The <Camera> component receives:

• style for full screen
• type for active camera
• flashMode for flash state
• ref for the camera reference

State drives these props as the user interacts.

Taking photos, toggling flash, and switching cameras

Buttons:

• Capture with takePictureAsync() via the ref
• Toggle flash by updating flash state
• Switch cameras by updating type state

The photo URI goes into image state for preview or save.

Saving photos to the library and showing alerts

Save to the gallery with MediaLibrary.saveToLibraryAsync(uri). Show an alert on success.

Console logs help during development.

Retake or save options after capture

Users can retake if they are not happy with the shot, or save to the library with confirmation.

Basic flow control that improves the capture experience.

Resources

CourseReact Native course

React Native fundamentals from basics through deployment.

YouTubeReact Native Camera Tutorial

Step-by-step video on using the camera in React Native with Expo.