startVideoRecording

Start recording a video using the native camera. The recording continues until stopVideoRecording() is called.

Usage

const camera = useRef<ZCamera>(null);
 
const result = await camera.current?.startVideoRecording();
console.log('Recording to:', result.filePath);

Parameters

position (optional)

Type: "front" | "back"
Default: Camera's current position prop (or "back")

Which camera to use for recording.

Returns

Promise<StartNativeVideoRecordingResult>

type StartNativeVideoRecordingResult = {
  status: "recording";           // Indicates recording successfully started
  filePath: string;              // Path to in-progress movie file
  format: "mov";                 // Container format
  hasAudio: boolean;             // Whether audio is included
}

Example

import { useRef, useState } from 'react';
import { View, Button, Text } from 'react-native';
import { ZCamera } from '@succinctlabs/react-native-zcam1';
 
function VideoRecorder({ captureInfo }) {
  const camera = useRef<ZCamera>(null);
  const [isRecording, setIsRecording] = useState(false);
  const [filePath, setFilePath] = useState<string>();
 
  const startRecording = async () => {
    try {
      const result = await camera.current?.startVideoRecording();
      setIsRecording(true);
      setFilePath(result?.filePath);
      console.log('Recording started:', result);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Failed to start recording:', error);
    }
  };
 
  const stopRecording = async () => {
    try {
      const result = await camera.current?.stopVideoRecording();
      setIsRecording(false);
      console.log('Recording saved:', result?.filePath);
      console.log('Duration:', result?.durationSeconds, 'seconds');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Failed to stop recording:', error);
    }
  };
 
  return (
    <View style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <ZCamera ref={camera} captureInfo={captureInfo} style={{ flex: 1 }} />
      <View style={{ padding: 16 }}>
        {isRecording ? (
          <>
            <Text>Recording to: {filePath}</Text>
            <Button title="Stop Recording" onPress={stopRecording} />
          </>
        ) : (
          <Button title="Start Recording" onPress={startRecording} />
        )}
      </View>
    </View>
  );
}

Notes

Throws an error if a recording is already in progress
Requires both camera and microphone permissions for audio recording
Video is recorded to a temporary .mov file in the cache directory
The recording includes C2PA manifest with hardware-backed attestation
Call stopVideoRecording() to finalize and get the complete file with metadata
Audio is automatically included if microphone permission is granted
Recording continues even if the app goes to background (iOS will show recording indicator)