rivetkit-client-react

SKILL.md

RivetKit React Client

Use this skill when building React apps that connect to Rivet Actors with @rivetkit/react.

First Steps

Install the React client (latest: 2.3.2)
npm install @rivetkit/react@2.3.2

Create hooks with createRivetKit() and connect with useActor().

Error Handling Policy

Prefer fail-fast behavior by default.

Avoid try/catch unless absolutely needed.

If a catch is used, handle the error explicitly, at minimum by logging it.

Getting Started
See the React quickstart guide for getting started.

Install

Minimal Client

Stateless vs Stateful

Getting Actors

Connection Parameters

Subscribing to Events

Connection Lifecycle

Low-Level HTTP & WebSocket

Use the JavaScript client for raw HTTP and WebSocket access:

import { createClient } from "rivetkit/client";

const client = createClient();
const handle = client.chatRoom.getOrCreate(["general"]);

const response = await handle.fetch("history");
const history = await response.json();

const ws = await handle.webSocket("stream");
ws.addEventListener("message", (event) => {
  console.log("message:", event.data);
});
ws.send("hello");

Calling from Backend

Use the JavaScript client on your backend (Node.js/Bun). See the JavaScript client docs.

Error Handling

Concepts

Keys

Keys uniquely identify actor instances. Use compound keys (arrays) for hierarchical addressing:

Don't build keys with string interpolation like "org:${userId}" when userId contains user data. Use arrays instead to prevent key injection attacks.

Environment Variables

createRivetKit() (and the underlying createClient() instance) automatically read:

RIVET_ENDPOINT

RIVET_NAMESPACE

RIVET_TOKEN

RIVET_RUNNER

Defaults to http://localhost:6420 when unset. RivetKit runs on port 6420 by default.

Endpoint Format

Endpoints support URL auth syntax:

https://namespace:token@api.rivet.dev

You can also pass the endpoint without auth and provide RIVET_NAMESPACE and RIVET_TOKEN separately. For serverless deployments, use your app's /api/rivet URL. See Endpoints for details.

API Reference

Package: @rivetkit/react

createRivetKit - Create hooks for React

useActor - Hook for actor instances

Need More Than the Client?

If you need more about Rivet Actors, registries, or server-side RivetKit, add the main skill:

npx skills add rivet-dev/skills

Then use the rivetkit skill for backend guidance.