Migrating from Enzyme to React Testing Library
Choosing the suitable testing library becomes crucial as your application evolves, and React Testing Library (RTL) has gained popularity for its user-centric testing approach. And if you are using Enzyme and looking for an easy way to migrate from Enzyme to React, this blog is for you. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the migration process.
What is React Testing Library?
React Testing Library is a component integrated into an open-source project named Testing Library. Within the Testing Library project, you’ll find numerous beneficial tools and libraries that can be used to write concise and useful tests. Here are a couple of the project’s other libraries that you will find helpful.
@testing-library/jest-dom: The jest-dom library offers a collection of custom Jest matchers to enhance Jest’s capabilities. Use these matchers to easily maintain your tests while making them more declarative and more straightforward to read.
@testing-library/user-event: user-event strives to replicate authentic browser events as users interact with elements on a webpage. E.g., userEvent.click(checkbox) will change the state of the checkbox.
Why migrate to React?
Enzyme has been a staple for React testing, offering a shallow rendering approach. However, React Testing Library takes a different approach by testing the application from the user’s perspective, encouraging more realistic and robust test scenarios.
Benefits of migrating to React Testing Library:
- User-centric testing: RTL encourages testing components in a way that simulates user interactions, leading to tests that closely resemble how users interact with your application.
- Less focus on implementation details: React Testing Library discourages testing implementation details, promoting more resilient tests that survive component refactoring.
- Accessibility testing: RTL provides utilities for testing accessibility, ensuring your application is inclusive and complies with accessibility standards.
Enzyme to React Testing Library migration steps
Adopting an incremental approach is highly recommended for a seamless migration. Run both test libraries concurrently within the same application, gradually transitioning your Enzyme tests to React Testing Library one at a time. This incremental process allows for the migration of even extensive and complex applications without causing disruptions to ongoing business activities. The collaborative nature of this approach enables the work to be distributed over time, ensuring a smooth transition.
Step 1: Installation
Ensure that you install the React Testing Library along with the necessary dependencies.
Step 2: Replace Enzyme Imports
Search and replace Enzyme imports with their React Testing Library counterparts in your test files. The official migration guide provides a comprehensive list of replacements for common Enzyme methods.
For example, replace Enzyme’s shallow with React Testing Library’s render:
Step 3: Update Test Logic
Update your test logic to align with React Testing Library’s philosophy. Focus on testing user interactions and behavior rather than component implementation details.
For instance, replace Enzyme’s .text() with React Testing Library’s getByText:
Step 4: Adjust Queries
React Testing Library uses queries that align with how users interact with your application. Update your queries accordingly. For example, replace Enzyme’s. find with React Testing Library’s getBy:
