React fragment shorthand failing to compile

All we need is an easy explanation of the problem, so here it is.

The project in question is using React-16.2.0 which has the capability to use Fragments and the Fragment shorthand.

https://reactjs.org/blog/2017/11/28/react-v16.2.0-fragment-support.html

While the full-length syntax works fine…

import React, { Fragment, Component } from 'react';

class TestingFragment extends Component {
    render() {
        return (
            <Fragment>
                <span>This is a fragment of text </span>
                <div>Another part of the fragment</div>
            </Fragment>
        )
    }
};

export default TestingFragment

The shorthand fails to compile and I am at a loss as to why this is. Fore example…

import React, { Component } from 'react';

class TestingFragment extends Component {
    render() {
        return (
            <>
                <span>This is a fragment of text </span>
                <div>Another part of the fragment</div>
            </>
        )
    }
};

export default TestingFragment

Which fails to compile as follows…

Failed to compile
./src/testingFragments.js
Syntax error: Unexpected token (6:4)

  4 |   render() {
  5 |       return (
> 6 |           <>
    |            ^
  7 |               <span>This is a fragment of text </span>
  8 |               <div>Another part of the fragment</div>
  9 |           </>
This error occurred during the build time and cannot be dismissed.

Is there something here I am missing about the Fragment shorthand syntax?

How to solve :

I know you bored from this bug, So we are here to help you! Take a deep breath and look at the explanation of your problem. We have many solutions to this problem, But we recommend you to use the first method because it is tested & true method that will 100% work for you.

Method 1

I think this is a reason:

https://reactjs.org/blog/2017/11/28/react-v16.2.0-fragment-support.html#support-for-fragment-syntax

screenshot

create-react-apps currently use Babel 6.26.0
for full support React.Fragment is needed Babel v7.0.0-beta.31 and above

======================= EDIT

It’s working now with create-react-app v2
https://reactjs.org/blog/2018/10/01/create-react-app-v2.html

Method 2

You can use the poor man’s fragment shorthand as a quick fix: [ , ]

render(){
  return [
    <div key="f">foo</div>,
    <div key="b">bar</div>
  ]
}

as array of nodes is a valid jsx element. You need to add a key prop to each of them manually though as Anarno pointed out.

Method 3

Fragment syntax is only supported by Babel v7.0.0-beta.31 & above.

Note: Use and implement method 1 because this method fully tested our system.
Thank you 🙂

All methods was sourced from stackoverflow.com or stackexchange.com, is licensed under cc by-sa 2.5, cc by-sa 3.0 and cc by-sa 4.0