jest-testing
Automatically activated when user works with Jest tests, mentions Jest configuration, asks about Jest matchers/mocks, or has files matching *.test.js, *.test.ts, jest.config.*. Provides Jest-specific expertise for testing React, Node.js, and JavaScript applications. Also applies to Vitest due to API compatibility. Does NOT handle general quality analysis - use analyzing-test-quality for that.
Best use case
jest-testing is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Automatically activated when user works with Jest tests, mentions Jest configuration, asks about Jest matchers/mocks, or has files matching *.test.js, *.test.ts, jest.config.*. Provides Jest-specific expertise for testing React, Node.js, and JavaScript applications. Also applies to Vitest due to API compatibility. Does NOT handle general quality analysis - use analyzing-test-quality for that.
Teams using jest-testing should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/jest-testing/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How jest-testing Compares
| Feature / Agent | jest-testing | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Automatically activated when user works with Jest tests, mentions Jest configuration, asks about Jest matchers/mocks, or has files matching *.test.js, *.test.ts, jest.config.*. Provides Jest-specific expertise for testing React, Node.js, and JavaScript applications. Also applies to Vitest due to API compatibility. Does NOT handle general quality analysis - use analyzing-test-quality for that.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
Related Guides
SKILL.md Source
# Jest Testing Expertise
You are an expert in Jest testing framework with deep knowledge of its configuration, matchers, mocks, and best practices for testing JavaScript and TypeScript applications.
## Your Capabilities
1. **Jest Configuration**: Setup, configuration files, environments, and presets
2. **Matchers & Assertions**: Built-in and custom matchers, asymmetric matchers
3. **Mocking**: Mock functions, modules, timers, and external dependencies
4. **Snapshot Testing**: Inline and external snapshots, snapshot updates
5. **Code Coverage**: Coverage configuration, thresholds, and reports
6. **Test Organization**: Describe blocks, hooks, test filtering
7. **React Testing**: Testing React components with Jest DOM and RTL
## When to Use This Skill
Claude should automatically invoke this skill when:
- The user mentions Jest, jest.config, or Jest-specific features
- Files matching `*.test.js`, `*.test.ts`, `*.test.jsx`, `*.test.tsx` are encountered
- The user asks about mocking, snapshots, or Jest matchers
- The conversation involves testing React, Node.js, or JavaScript apps
- Jest configuration or setup is discussed
## How to Use This Skill
### Accessing Resources
Use `{baseDir}` to reference files in this skill directory:
- Scripts: `{baseDir}/scripts/`
- Documentation: `{baseDir}/references/`
- Templates: `{baseDir}/assets/`
### Progressive Discovery
1. Start with core Jest expertise
2. Reference specific documentation as needed
3. Provide code examples from templates
## Available Resources
This skill includes ready-to-use resources in `{baseDir}`:
- **references/jest-cheatsheet.md** - Quick reference for matchers, mocks, async patterns, and CLI commands
- **assets/test-file.template.ts** - Complete test templates for unit tests, async tests, class tests, mock tests, React components, and hooks
- **scripts/check-jest-setup.sh** - Validates Jest configuration and dependencies
## Jest Best Practices
### Test Structure
```javascript
describe('ComponentName', () => {
beforeEach(() => {
// Setup
});
afterEach(() => {
// Cleanup
});
describe('method or behavior', () => {
it('should do expected thing when condition', () => {
// Arrange
// Act
// Assert
});
});
});
```
### Mocking Patterns
#### Mock Functions
```javascript
const mockFn = jest.fn();
mockFn.mockReturnValue('value');
mockFn.mockResolvedValue('async value');
mockFn.mockImplementation((arg) => arg * 2);
```
#### Mock Modules
```javascript
jest.mock('./module', () => ({
func: jest.fn().mockReturnValue('mocked'),
}));
```
#### Mock Timers
```javascript
jest.useFakeTimers();
jest.advanceTimersByTime(1000);
jest.runAllTimers();
```
### Common Matchers
```javascript
expect(value).toBe(expected); // Strict equality
expect(value).toEqual(expected); // Deep equality
expect(value).toBeTruthy(); // Truthy
expect(value).toContain(item); // Array/string contains
expect(fn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(args); // Function called with
expect(value).toMatchSnapshot(); // Snapshot
expect(fn).toThrow(error); // Throws
```
### Async Testing
```javascript
// Promises
it('async test', async () => {
await expect(asyncFn()).resolves.toBe('value');
});
// Callbacks
it('callback test', (done) => {
callbackFn((result) => {
expect(result).toBe('value');
done();
});
});
```
## Jest Configuration
### Basic Configuration
```javascript
// jest.config.js
module.exports = {
testEnvironment: 'node', // or 'jsdom'
roots: ['<rootDir>/src'],
testMatch: ['**/__tests__/**/*.ts', '**/*.test.ts'],
transform: {
'^.+\\.tsx?$': 'ts-jest',
},
moduleNameMapper: {
'^@/(.*)$': '<rootDir>/src/$1',
},
coverageThreshold: {
global: {
branches: 80,
functions: 80,
lines: 80,
statements: 80,
},
},
};
```
## React Testing Library
### Setup with Custom Render
```typescript
// test-utils.tsx
import { render, RenderOptions } from '@testing-library/react';
import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from '@tanstack/react-query';
import { BrowserRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
const AllProviders = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => {
const queryClient = new QueryClient({
defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } },
});
return (
<QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
<BrowserRouter>
{children}
</BrowserRouter>
</QueryClientProvider>
);
};
export const renderWithProviders = (
ui: React.ReactElement,
options?: RenderOptions
) => render(ui, { wrapper: AllProviders, ...options });
export * from '@testing-library/react';
```
### Query Priority (Best to Worst)
```typescript
// 1. Accessible queries (best)
screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Submit' });
screen.getByLabelText('Email');
screen.getByPlaceholderText('Enter email');
screen.getByText('Welcome');
// 2. Semantic queries
screen.getByAltText('Profile picture');
screen.getByTitle('Close');
// 3. Test IDs (last resort)
screen.getByTestId('submit-button');
```
### User Interactions
```typescript
import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
test('form submission', async () => {
const user = userEvent.setup();
render(<LoginForm />);
// Type in inputs
await user.type(screen.getByLabelText('Email'), 'test@example.com');
await user.type(screen.getByLabelText('Password'), 'password123');
// Click button
await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Sign in' }));
// Check result
await waitFor(() => {
expect(screen.getByText('Welcome!')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
test('keyboard navigation', async () => {
const user = userEvent.setup();
render(<Form />);
await user.tab(); // Focus first element
await user.keyboard('{Enter}'); // Press enter
await user.keyboard('[ShiftLeft>][Tab][/ShiftLeft]'); // Shift+Tab
});
```
### Testing Hooks
```typescript
import { renderHook, act } from '@testing-library/react';
import { useCounter } from './useCounter';
test('useCounter increments', () => {
const { result } = renderHook(() => useCounter());
expect(result.current.count).toBe(0);
act(() => {
result.current.increment();
});
expect(result.current.count).toBe(1);
});
// With wrapper for context
test('hook with context', () => {
const wrapper = ({ children }) => (
<ThemeProvider theme="dark">{children}</ThemeProvider>
);
const { result } = renderHook(() => useTheme(), { wrapper });
expect(result.current.theme).toBe('dark');
});
```
### Async Assertions
```typescript
import { waitFor, waitForElementToBeRemoved } from '@testing-library/react';
test('async loading', async () => {
render(<DataFetcher />);
// Wait for loading to disappear
await waitForElementToBeRemoved(() => screen.queryByText('Loading...'));
// Wait for content
await waitFor(() => {
expect(screen.getByText('Data loaded')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
// With timeout
await waitFor(
() => expect(screen.getByText('Slow content')).toBeInTheDocument(),
{ timeout: 5000 }
);
});
```
## Network Mocking with MSW
### Setup
```typescript
// src/mocks/handlers.ts
import { http, HttpResponse } from 'msw';
export const handlers = [
http.get('/api/users', () => {
return HttpResponse.json([
{ id: 1, name: 'John' },
{ id: 2, name: 'Jane' },
]);
}),
http.post('/api/users', async ({ request }) => {
const body = await request.json();
return HttpResponse.json({ id: 3, ...body }, { status: 201 });
}),
http.delete('/api/users/:id', ({ params }) => {
return HttpResponse.json({ deleted: params.id });
}),
];
// src/mocks/server.ts
import { setupServer } from 'msw/node';
import { handlers } from './handlers';
export const server = setupServer(...handlers);
```
### Jest Setup
```typescript
// jest.setup.ts
import { server } from './src/mocks/server';
beforeAll(() => server.listen({ onUnhandledRequest: 'error' }));
afterEach(() => server.resetHandlers());
afterAll(() => server.close());
```
### Test-Specific Handlers
```typescript
import { server } from '../mocks/server';
import { http, HttpResponse } from 'msw';
test('handles error response', async () => {
// Override for this test only
server.use(
http.get('/api/users', () => {
return HttpResponse.json(
{ error: 'Server error' },
{ status: 500 }
);
})
);
render(<UserList />);
await waitFor(() => {
expect(screen.getByText('Failed to load users')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
test('handles network error', async () => {
server.use(
http.get('/api/users', () => {
return HttpResponse.error();
})
);
render(<UserList />);
await waitFor(() => {
expect(screen.getByText('Network error')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
```
### Request Assertions
```typescript
test('sends correct request', async () => {
let capturedRequest: Request | null = null;
server.use(
http.post('/api/users', async ({ request }) => {
capturedRequest = request.clone();
return HttpResponse.json({ id: 1 });
})
);
render(<CreateUserForm />);
await userEvent.type(screen.getByLabelText('Name'), 'John');
await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Create' }));
await waitFor(() => {
expect(capturedRequest).not.toBeNull();
});
const body = await capturedRequest!.json();
expect(body).toEqual({ name: 'John' });
});
```
## Custom Matchers
### Creating Custom Matchers
```typescript
// jest.setup.ts
expect.extend({
toBeWithinRange(received: number, floor: number, ceiling: number) {
const pass = received >= floor && received <= ceiling;
return {
pass,
message: () =>
pass
? `expected ${received} not to be within range ${floor} - ${ceiling}`
: `expected ${received} to be within range ${floor} - ${ceiling}`,
};
},
toHaveBeenCalledOnceWith(received: jest.Mock, ...args: unknown[]) {
const pass =
received.mock.calls.length === 1 &&
JSON.stringify(received.mock.calls[0]) === JSON.stringify(args);
return {
pass,
message: () =>
pass
? `expected not to be called once with ${args}`
: `expected to be called once with ${args}, but was called ${received.mock.calls.length} times`,
};
},
});
// Type declarations
declare global {
namespace jest {
interface Matchers<R> {
toBeWithinRange(floor: number, ceiling: number): R;
toHaveBeenCalledOnceWith(...args: unknown[]): R;
}
}
}
```
### Asymmetric Matchers
```typescript
test('asymmetric matchers', () => {
const data = {
id: 123,
name: 'Test',
createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
};
expect(data).toEqual({
id: expect.any(Number),
name: expect.stringContaining('Test'),
createdAt: expect.stringMatching(/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}/),
});
expect(['a', 'b', 'c']).toEqual(
expect.arrayContaining(['a', 'c'])
);
expect({ a: 1, b: 2, c: 3 }).toEqual(
expect.objectContaining({ a: 1, b: 2 })
);
});
```
## Debugging Jest Tests
### Debug Output
```typescript
import { screen } from '@testing-library/react';
test('debugging', () => {
render(<MyComponent />);
// Print DOM
screen.debug();
// Print specific element
screen.debug(screen.getByRole('button'));
// Get readable DOM
console.log(prettyDOM(container));
});
```
### Finding Slow Tests
```bash
# Run with verbose timing
jest --verbose
# Detect open handles
jest --detectOpenHandles
# Run tests serially to find interactions
jest --runInBand
```
### Common Debug Patterns
```typescript
// Check what's in the DOM
test('debug queries', () => {
render(<MyComponent />);
// Log all available roles
screen.getByRole(''); // Will error with available roles
// Check accessible name
screen.logTestingPlaygroundURL(); // Opens playground
});
// Debug async issues
test('async debug', async () => {
render(<AsyncComponent />);
// Use findBy for async elements
const element = await screen.findByText('Loaded');
// Log state at each step
screen.debug();
});
```
## CI/CD Integration
### GitHub Actions Workflow
```yaml
# .github/workflows/test.yml
name: Tests
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
test:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Setup Node.js
uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: '20'
cache: 'npm'
- name: Install dependencies
run: npm ci
- name: Run tests
run: npm test -- --coverage --ci
- name: Upload coverage
uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
with:
files: ./coverage/lcov.info
```
### Jest CI Configuration
```javascript
// jest.config.js
module.exports = {
// ... other config
// CI-specific settings
...(process.env.CI && {
maxWorkers: 2,
ci: true,
coverageReporters: ['lcov', 'text-summary'],
}),
// Coverage thresholds
coverageThreshold: {
global: {
branches: 80,
functions: 80,
lines: 80,
statements: 80,
},
},
};
```
### Caching Dependencies
```yaml
# In GitHub Actions
- name: Cache Jest
uses: actions/cache@v3
with:
path: |
node_modules/.cache/jest
key: jest-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('**/jest.config.js') }}
```
## Common Issues & Solutions
### Issue: Tests are slow
- Use `jest.mock()` for expensive modules
- Run tests in parallel with `--maxWorkers`
- Use `beforeAll` for expensive setup
- Mock network requests with MSW
### Issue: Flaky tests
- Mock timers for timing-dependent code
- Use `waitFor` for async state changes
- Avoid shared mutable state
- Use `findBy` queries for async elements
### Issue: Mock not working
- Ensure mock is before import
- Use `jest.resetModules()` between tests
- Check module path matches exactly
- Use `jest.doMock()` for dynamic mocks
### Issue: Memory leaks
- Clean up in `afterEach`
- Mock timers with `jest.useFakeTimers()`
- Use `--detectLeaks` flag
- Check for unresolved promises
## Examples
### Example 1: Testing a React Component
When testing React components:
1. Check for React Testing Library usage
2. Verify proper queries (getByRole, getByLabelText)
3. Test user interactions with userEvent
4. Assert on accessible elements
### Example 2: Testing API Calls
When testing code that makes API calls:
1. Mock fetch or axios at module level
2. Test success and error scenarios
3. Verify request parameters
4. Test loading states
## Version Compatibility
The patterns in this skill require the following minimum versions:
| Package | Minimum Version | Features Used |
|---------|----------------|---------------|
| Jest | 29.0+ | Modern mock APIs, ESM support |
| @testing-library/react | 14.0+ | renderHook in main package |
| @testing-library/user-event | 14.0+ | userEvent.setup() API |
| msw | 2.0+ | http, HttpResponse (v1 used rest, ctx) |
| @testing-library/jest-dom | 6.0+ | Modern matchers |
### Migration Notes
**MSW v1 → v2**:
```typescript
// v1 (deprecated)
import { rest } from 'msw';
rest.get('/api', (req, res, ctx) => res(ctx.json(data)));
// v2 (current)
import { http, HttpResponse } from 'msw';
http.get('/api', () => HttpResponse.json(data));
```
**user-event v13 → v14**:
```typescript
// v13 (deprecated)
userEvent.click(button);
// v14 (current)
const user = userEvent.setup();
await user.click(button);
```
## Important Notes
- Jest is automatically invoked by Claude when relevant
- Always check for jest.config.js/ts for project-specific settings
- Use `{baseDir}` variable to reference skill resources
- Prefer Testing Library queries over direct DOM access for ReactRelated Skills
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