Jest setup for unit tests in React Native - Mini App: Build & Ship

Build: Jest Test Setup

Set up Jest testing environment for a React Native app and create a simple unit test for a component.

Target UI

-------------------------
| Jest Test Setup Screen |
|-----------------------|
| Component renders text |
| Button to run tests   |
-------------------------

Configure Jest in React Native project

Create a simple functional component that displays text

Write a unit test to check if the component renders the correct text

Ensure test can be run with 'npm test' or 'yarn test'

Starter Code

React Native

import React from 'react';
import { Text, View } from 'react-native';

export default function Greeting() {
  // TODO: Return a View with a Text component that says 'Hello, Jest!'
  return null;
}

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Solution

React Native

import React from 'react';
import { Text, View } from 'react-native';

export default function Greeting() {
  return (
    <View>
      <Text>Hello, Jest!</Text>
    </View>
  );
}

// __tests__/Greeting.test.js
import React from 'react';
import { render } from '@testing-library/react-native';
import Greeting from '../Greeting';

test('Greeting component renders correct text', () => {
  const { getByText } = render(<Greeting />);
  expect(getByText('Hello, Jest!')).toBeTruthy();
});

// package.json scripts section
// "scripts": {
//   "test": "jest"
// },

// jest.config.js
// module.exports = {
//   preset: 'react-native',
//   setupFilesAfterEnv: ['@testing-library/jest-native/extend-expect'],
//   transformIgnorePatterns: [
//     'node_modules/(?!(react-native|@react-native|@react-native-community)/)'
//   ]
// };

We implemented the Greeting component to return a View containing a Text element with the string "Hello, Jest!". This is the UI we want to test.

In the __tests__/Greeting.test.js file, we use @testing-library/react-native to render the component and check if the text "Hello, Jest!" is present. This confirms the component renders correctly.

The package.json script "test" runs Jest, and the jest.config.js file configures Jest for React Native, including necessary presets and transforms.

This setup allows running npm test or yarn test to execute the unit test and verify the component's output.

Final Result

Completed Screen

-------------------------
| Jest Test Setup Screen |
|-----------------------|
| Hello, Jest!           |
-------------------------

User runs 'npm test' or 'yarn test' in terminal

Jest runs the Greeting.test.js file

Test passes confirming the component renders 'Hello, Jest!' text

Stretch Goal

Add snapshot testing for the Greeting component

💡 Hint

Use 'toMatchSnapshot()' in your Jest test to save and compare the component's rendered output

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of setting up Jest in a React Native project?

easy

A. To run automated tests and catch bugs early

B. To improve app performance on devices

C. To style components with CSS

D. To deploy the app to app stores

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Jest's role

   Jest is a testing framework used to run automated tests on code.

2. Step 2: Identify its main benefit

   Running tests helps find bugs early before releasing the app.

3. Final Answer:

   To run automated tests and catch bugs early -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Jest purpose = testing and bug catching [OK]

Hint: Jest is for testing code, not styling or deployment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Jest with styling tools
• Thinking Jest improves app speed
• Assuming Jest deploys apps

2. Which of the following is the correct way to import Jest functions in a React Native test file?

easy

A. import { test, expect } from '@testing-library/react-native';

B. No import needed; Jest globals are available automatically

C. const { test, expect } = require('jest');

D. import { test, expect } from 'jest';

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Jest globals

   Jest provides test and expect as global functions by default.

2. Step 2: Understand import necessity

   Because they are globals, you do not need to import them explicitly.

3. Final Answer:

   No import needed; Jest globals are available automatically -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Jest globals = no import needed [OK]

Hint: Jest test and expect are global, no import required [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to import test and expect explicitly
• Confusing Jest with other libraries needing imports
• Using require instead of relying on globals

3. Given this test code snippet, what will be the test result?

test('adds 1 + 2 to equal 3', () => {
  expect(1 + 2).toBe(3);
});

medium

A. Test fails because 1 + 2 is not 3

B. Test fails with a syntax error

C. Test passes successfully

D. Test throws a runtime error

Solution

1. Step 1: Evaluate the expression inside expect

   1 + 2 equals 3, so expect(3).toBe(3) is true.

2. Step 2: Understand Jest test behavior

   Since the expectation matches, the test passes without errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Test passes successfully -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   1 + 2 = 3, test passes [OK]

Hint: Check math inside expect; if true, test passes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking 1 + 2 is not 3
• Confusing syntax errors with logic errors
• Assuming runtime errors without cause

4. You wrote this test but it fails with a syntax error:

test('check true value', () => {
  expect(true).toBeTrue();
});

What is the likely cause?

medium

A. toBeTrue() is not a Jest matcher; use toBe(true) instead

B. Missing import of toBeTrue from Jest library

C. Syntax error due to missing semicolon after expect

D. Jest does not support boolean tests

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Jest matchers for booleans

   Jest does not have a matcher called toBeTrue(); it uses toBe(true) instead.

2. Step 2: Identify cause of syntax error

   Using an unknown matcher causes Jest to throw an error.

3. Final Answer:

   toBeTrue() is not a Jest matcher; use toBe(true) instead -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use toBe(true), not toBeTrue() [OK]

Hint: Use toBe(true) for boolean checks, not toBeTrue() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to import non-existent matchers
• Assuming semicolon causes syntax error
• Believing Jest can't test booleans

5. You want to test a React Native component that renders a button with text 'Click me'. Which setup is correct to write a Jest test using @testing-library/react-native?

hard

A. import { render } from '@testing-library/react-native';
test('button text', () => {
const { getByText } = render();
expect(getByText('Click me')).toBeFalsy();
});

B. import { render } from 'react-native-testing-library';
test('button text', () => {
const { getByText } = render();
expect(getByText('Click me')).toBeNull();
});

C. import { render } from '@testing-library/react-native';
test('button text', () => {
const { getByText } = render();
expect(getByText('Click me')).toBeNull();
});

D. import { render } from '@testing-library/react-native';
test('button text', () => {
const { getByText } = render();
expect(getByText('Click me')).toBeTruthy();
});

Solution

1. Step 1: Use correct testing library import

   @testing-library/react-native is the recommended library for rendering components in Jest tests.

2. Step 2: Check assertion correctness

   getByText returns the element if found; expect(...).toBeTruthy() confirms it exists.

3. Final Answer:

   Correct import and expect(getByText('Click me')).toBeTruthy() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Render + getByText + toBeTruthy() = correct test [OK]

Hint: Use getByText and expect(...).toBeTruthy() to check rendered text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong testing library import
• Expecting getByText to return null when text exists
• Using toBeFalsy() instead of toBeTruthy() for found elements