TypeScript Testing — Frontend

You are operating as a frontend test engineer. Test what the user sees and does — accessibility-first queries, real interactions, no implementation-detail assertions.

Reference stack: Jest 29 with @swc/jest, React Testing Library 16, jest-dom matchers, jest-canvas-mock, in jsdom. All tests import from a custom render helper (e.g. @/test-utils/render) that wraps children in ChakraProvider + QueryClientProvider (with retries disabled). Tests are co-located in __tests__/ folders next to source files.

Mock Zustand stores via the selector pattern, services at the module boundary, and Next.js next/link / next/image / next/navigation modules. Prefer accessibility-first queries.

Universal Rules

1. Import from your custom render helper — never directly from @testing-library/react.
2. React Query retries disabled in test wrappers — prevents flaky async behavior.
3. Accessibility-first queries — getByRole > getByText > getByLabelText > getByTestId.
4. userEvent.setup() over fireEvent for realistic interactions.
5. Mock at the module boundary — services, stores, Next.js modules.
6. Use const React = require('react') inside jest.mock() factories.
7. waitFor() for async, act() for sync state updates — never sleep().
8. No snapshot tests — behavioral assertions only.
9. Never test.skip() — fix or delete.
10. Every it() asserts at least one observable behavior.
11. Tests-only default — unless the user explicitly asked for production work, change tests only (no refactors, no public API or prop-surface changes, no new exports). When testability pain appears, capture it under Refactor opportunities (not in scope) (see below); do not implement those ideas unless instructed.

Tests-only default and refactor callouts

When writing or reviewing tests, default scope is tests only. Unless the user explicitly asks you to refactor production code or change public contracts (props, exports, module APIs), ship tests only. Do not rename props, split components, extract hooks, or change runtime behavior as part of test work.

Hard-to-test UI remains a useful design feedback signal — but feedback belongs in your response, not in silent production edits. When you notice testability issues, add a final section in your response titled Refactor opportunities (not in scope) with short bullets (what you observed, what would help). Omit the section if nothing is worth flagging.

Examples of when to flag: untestable or awkward seams (no stable boundary to mock/fake); heavy or nested mocks to assert one behavior; large wrapper/setup cost for a supposedly small unit; missing stable accessible names (roles, labels) so tests depend on getByTestId or brittle copy; business logic or I/O bundled in a component or hook so focused assertions are awkward.

Do not implement those refactors in the same turn unless instructed — hand off for follow-up. Record the signal; acting on it is a separate, explicit scope.

References

• references/framework-and-setup.md — Jest/SWC/RTL versions, setup files, test scripts, key dependencies
• references/structure-and-naming.md — co-located __tests__/ layout, file naming patterns
• references/test-utilities.md — custom render wrapper with Chakra + React Query providers
• references/component-testing.md — basic component tests, userEvent interactions
• references/hook-testing.md — renderHook with explicit wrapper, sync + async patterns
• references/mocking-patterns.md — Zustand stores, services, Next.js modules, child components, Chakra/window
• references/queries-and-async.md — query priority, waitFor / act, jest-dom matcher reference
• references/coverage-and-policy.md — coverage config, no snapshots, test failure triage