Fetch API does not support getReader (response.body is undefined)

Description

When trying to read the response from Fetch as a stream, via getReader(), I get an error saying that resp.body is undefined. Logging the value of resp shows this:

{"_bodyBlob": {"_data": {"__collector": [Object], "blobId": "xxx", "name": "chat.txt", "offset": 0, "size": 42, "type": "text/plain"}}, "_bodyInit": {"_data": {"__collector": [Object], "blobId": "xxx", "name": "chat.txt", "offset": 0, "size": 42, "type": "text/plain"}}, "bodyUsed": false, "headers": {"map": {"cache-control": "no-store", "content-length": "42", "content-type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "date": "Sun, 21 May 2023 18:53:09 GMT", "expect-ct": "max-age=2592000, report-uri=\"https://sentry.repl.it/api/10/security/?sentry_key=xxx\"", "replit-cluster": "hacker", "strict-transport-security": "max-age=6123043; includeSubDomains", "uwebsockets": "20"}}, "ok": true, "status": 200, "statusText": "", "type": "default", "url": "https://xxx.luisafk.repl.co/chat"}

Duplicate of #25701 and #25910, but they were closed.

React Native Version

0.71.7

Output of `npx react-native info`

System:
    OS: macOS 12.6.3
    CPU: (8) x64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6920HQ CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Memory: 346.30 MB / 16.00 GB
    Shell: 5.8.1 - /bin/zsh
  Binaries:
    Node: 19.7.0 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v19.7.0/bin/node
    Yarn: 1.22.15 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v19.7.0/bin/yarn
    npm: 9.5.0 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v19.7.0/bin/npm
    Watchman: Not Found
  Managers:
    CocoaPods: Not Found
  SDKs:
    iOS SDK: Not Found
    Android SDK: Not Found
  IDEs:
    Android Studio: Not Found
    Xcode: /undefined - /usr/bin/xcodebuild
  Languages:
    Java: Not Found
  npmPackages:
    @react-native-community/cli: Not Found
    react: 18.2.0 => 18.2.0 
    react-native: 0.71.7 => 0.71.7 
    react-native-macos: Not Found
  npmGlobalPackages:
    *react-native*: Not Found

Steps to reproduce

Try the code example below.

Snack, code example, screenshot, or link to a repository

const resp = await fetch('https://example.com');
const reader = resp.body.getReader();

⚠️	Newer Version of React Native is Available!
ℹ️	You are on a supported minor version, but it looks like there's a newer patch available - 0.71.8. Please upgrade to the highest patch for your minor or latest and verify if the issue persists (alternatively, create a new project and repro the issue in it). If it does not repro, please let us know so we can close out this issue. This helps us ensure we are looking at issues that still exist in the most recent releases.

I upgraded and it still does not work.

Same issue: respnse.json() is valid, however response.body is undefined

This issue has been lingering in RN for so long and many people have complained about it.
As it stands now fetch within RN is not spec complaint
#27741

Any update? Do I have to use third party fetch?

Since what I wanted to do was streaming, I ended up using WebSockets, but this should really just be fixed.

This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.

Typical react native negligence

…

On Sun, 25 Feb 2024 at 4:01 pm, github-actions[bot] < ***@***.***> wrote: This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#37505 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABHCJEIXFXJP2TICTVKMJGLYVLAR7AVCNFSM6AAAAAAYJSHQZWVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTSNRSHAYTGNRRGE> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

With all the AI APIs using SSE this is becoming more and more important. I can use websockets for internal streaming, but where we need to support SSE style APIs that's not an option. Most commercial APIs will prefer to offer streaming over HTTP.

I managed to find a solution here: #27741

For Expo users, Expo v52 introduces expo/fetch API which is Winter-CG compliant. We can simply use it instead of native fetch API.

@cortinico

Can the ReactNative team take a look at this requirement?
@cortinico

Still not available as 0.80

This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.

Bump. It is still an issue.

This issue is stale because it has been open 180 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.

Bump. Still an issue.

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Fetch API does not support getReader (response.body is undefined) #37505

Description

React Native Version

Output of `npx react-native info`

Steps to reproduce

Snack, code example, screenshot, or link to a repository

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Fetch API does not support getReader (response.body is undefined) #37505

Description

Description

React Native Version

Output of npx react-native info

Steps to reproduce

Snack, code example, screenshot, or link to a repository

Activity

github-actions commented on May 21, 2023

lafkpages commented on May 21, 2023

Liquidibrium commented on Jun 3, 2023

rbndg commented on Aug 18, 2023

codergautam commented on Aug 28, 2023

lafkpages commented on Aug 28, 2023

github-actions commented on Feb 25, 2024

rbndg commented on Feb 25, 2024

etler commented on May 3, 2024

LunatiqueCoder commented on Sep 20, 2024

yukukotani commented on Dec 29, 2024

NiuGuohui commented on Mar 19, 2025

gajrajgchouhan commented on Aug 13, 2025

react-native-bot commented on Feb 10, 2026

Clarkkkk commented on Feb 10, 2026

react-native-bot commented on Aug 10, 2026

gajrajgchouhan commented on Aug 10, 2026

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Output of `npx react-native info`