React-Native appends "charset=utf-8" to HTTP call Content-Type

[laurent22]

Description

I'm trying to use the Dropbox API with React-Native but when I try to call filesUpload I'm getting the following error:

Error in call to API function "files/upload": Bad HTTP "Content-Type" header: "application/octet-stream; charset=utf-8".  Expecting one of "application/octet-stream", "text/plain; charset=dropbox-cors-hack".

The Dropbox SDK makes use of the superagent library and it sets up the call like this:

apiRequest = request.post(getBaseURL(host) + path)
  .type('application/octet-stream')
  .set('Authorization', 'Bearer ' + accessToken)
  .set('Dropbox-API-Arg', httpHeaderSafeJson(args));

So the content-type is set to just "application/octet-stream" but when the request is eventually executed it's changed to "application/octet-stream; charset=utf-8". I'm assuming the SDK works fine in Node or in a browser, and that it's something that React-Native is adding. Is it a known issue? Is there any way to go around it?

Solution

Make sure that HTTP calls coming from React-Native do not append ; charset=utf-8 to the Content-Type (or make it optional).

Additional Information

• React Native version: 0.44
• Platform: Android (running on emulator under Windows)
• Development Operating System: Windows 10
• Dev tools: Android Studio

[hramos]

As this involves a third party library, can you try and reproduce this using fetch()? If RN is modifying the request in the way you describe, then the behavior can likely be observed using fetch().

[laurent22]

After some digging, it seems to be related to the okhttp library. I've put my findings in this related issue:

#8237 (comment)

I've also added a comment to the okhttp issue but it doesn't look like they are going to fix it:

square/okhttp#3081 (comment)

[ericwooley]

I am having the same issue using super agent directly, in emulators and on device. It doesn't occur in ios.

If i find a solution I will post it here

I am having the same issue with XHR requests.

xhr.open("POST", "https://REDACTED");
xhr.setRequestHeader("content-type", "application/vnd.api+json");
xhr.setRequestHeader("authorization", "Bearer REDACTED");
xhr.setRequestHeader("cache-control", "no-cache");

xhr.send(data);

Charles shows application/vnd.api+json; charset=utf-8 as the content-header

as @laurent22 points out, it's okhttp adding the content not superagent. I didn't realize that okhttp was a java library, not js library.

another issue to read is square/okhttp#2099 where they suggest:

1. Fix the server to allow the utf-8;
2. Second, work around the problem by manually converting the string to UTF-8 bytes with getBytes() and use the byte[] to create the response body.

I tracked down react native code as far as here https://github.com/facebook/react-native/blob/master/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/network/RequestBodyUtil.java#L123

But i am out of time to figure out further tonight. If i get time over the weekend I'll keep going.

[celodauane]

I have the same issue. Tried using different third party libraries and even RN fetch. It all failed.

[celodauane]

Fixing the server was the simplest solution for me. Thanks @ericwooley

[hramos]

Hi there! This issue is being closed because it has been inactive for a while. Maybe the issue has been fixed in a recent release, or perhaps it is not affecting a lot of people. Either way, we're automatically closing issues after a period of inactivity. Please do not take it personally!

If you think this issue should definitely remain open, please let us know. The following information is helpful when it comes to determining if the issue should be re-opened:

• Does the issue still reproduce on the latest release candidate? Post a comment with the version you tested.
• If so, is there any information missing from the bug report? Post a comment with all the information required by the issue template.
• Is there a pull request that addresses this issue? Post a comment with the PR number so we can follow up.

If you would like to work on a patch to fix the issue, contributions are very welcome! Read through the contribution guide, and feel free to hop into #react-native if you need help planning your contribution.

[laurent22]

@hramos , this is still a major issue for me and quite a few others. The Dropbox API still cannot be used from React Native, which prevents me from adding support for it in my app. It would be good if the issue could be re-opened. It's still not working in the latest release candidate and as far as I know there's currently no pull request addressing the issue.

[Kottidev]

@hramos , Our server does not prepare api for “utf-8”, and android avd sent requests with “charset=utf-8". So it cause 500 status error.

the issue should be re-opened

[tastafur]

In our react-native application we have the same problem

[ferroblesh]

same thing here. It's incredible that react native claims to be same core and uses different kind of http request for each platform. It should be same behavior on both sides

[lil5]

Here's a workaround #13487 (comment)

[Schonhoffer]

For anyone else stuck, here's what I did to get around it.

npm install --save buffer

import { Buffer } from 'buffer'

let content = "foo";
let resp = await fetch(
            'https://content.dropboxapi.com/2/files/upload', {
            method: 'POST',
            body:  Buffer.from(content, 'utf8'),
            headers: new Headers({
              'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + this._accessToken,
              'Dropbox-API-Arg': JSON.stringify(args),
              'Content-Length' : content.length,
              'Content-Type': 'application/octet-stream'
            })}
        );

[Dubidubiduu]

Please can someone solves this bug? Waiting for nextcloud support which isn't developed before closing this bug: http://joplin.cozic.net/

[vovkasm]

@Schonhoffer excellent!
Buffer will use ArrayBuffer, then
in convertRequestBody.js it will be encoded as base64 to marshal JS->Java, finally
in NetworkingModule.java it will properly reach OkHttp as ByteString!

@Dubidubiduu try solution from @Schonhoffer it should work.

[aeternas]

Is the problem still reproduced after this fix? #23580 (comment)

[dulmandakh]

The issue is fixed in 0.60 with 4a80776.

[jennifer-elyse]

For anyone else stuck, here's what I did to get around it.

npm install --save buffer

import { Buffer } from 'buffer'

let content = "foo";
let resp = await fetch(
            'https://content.dropboxapi.com/2/files/upload', {
            method: 'POST',
            body:  Buffer.from(content, 'utf8'),
            headers: new Headers({
              'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + this._accessToken,
              'Dropbox-API-Arg': JSON.stringify(args),
              'Content-Length' : content.length,
              'Content-Type': 'application/octet-stream'
            })}
        );

You can also add
; charset=UTF-8
to the Content-Type