Introduction to Jest Testing Framework

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Jest is a popular, open-source testing framework for JavaScript created by Facebook. With its zero configuration, ease of use, and extensive features, Jest has become the go-to testing solution for many developers. This article gives you an overview of Jest and shows you how to set it up and write your first tests.

Why Use Jest?

Jest offers several benefits, including:

1. Fast and efficient: Jest runs tests in parallel, optimizing for performance.
2. Snapshot testing: Easily capture and compare snapshots of your application's output.
3. Mocking: Jest provides built-in mocking capabilities, making it simple to test complex logic.
4. Code coverage: Track how much of your code is covered by tests, and easily identify areas that need more testing.
5. Watch mode: Run your tests as you code, automatically running relevant tests as you make changes.

Setting Up Jest

To start using Jest, you need to have Node.js installed on your system. Once Node.js is set up, follow these steps to install Jest:

1. Create a new project: Create a new directory for your project and navigate to it in the terminal.

mkdir jest-introduction
cd jest-introduction

1. Initialize npm: Run npm init to create a package.json file. You can use the -y flag to accept the default settings.

npm init -y

1. Install Jest: Install Jest as a development dependency by running the following command:

npm install --save-dev jest

Writing Your First Test

Now that Jest is installed, let's write a simple test. First, create a file named sum.js in your project directory with the following content:

function sum(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

module.exports = sum;

Next, create a file named sum.test.js in the same directory with the following code:

const sum = require("./sum");

test("sums two numbers", () => {
  expect(sum(1, 2)).toBe(3);
});

In your package.json, update the test script to run Jest:

"scripts": {
  "test": "jest"
}

Now, run your test using the following command:

npm test

You should see output indicating that your test has passed.

Additional Resources

As you dive deeper into Jest, you may find the following resources helpful:

• Official Jest Documentation
• Testing React with Jest and Enzyme

FAQ