Jest Generator Skill

Purpose

This skill generates Jest-based unit tests for JavaScript and TypeScript code, following Jest conventions, best practices, and project standards. It creates comprehensive test suites with proper mocking, describe blocks, and code organization.

When to Use

• Generate Jest tests for JavaScript/TypeScript modules
• Create test files for React components
• Add missing test coverage to existing JS/TS code
• Need Jest-specific patterns (mocks, spies, snapshots)

Test File Naming Convention

Source to Test Mapping:

• Source: src/components/Feature.tsx
• Test: src/components/Feature.test.tsx
• Pattern: <source_filename>.test.ts or <source_filename>.test.js

Examples:

• src/utils/validator.ts → src/utils/validator.test.ts
• src/models/User.ts → src/models/User.test.ts
• src/services/api.js → src/services/api.test.js
• src/components/Button.tsx → src/components/Button.test.tsx

---

Jest Test Generation Workflow

1. Analyze JavaScript/TypeScript Source Code

Read the source file:

# Read the source to understand structure
cat src/components/Feature.tsx

Identify test targets:

• Exported functions to test
• Classes and methods
• React components (if applicable)
• Error conditions
• Edge cases
• Dependencies and imports

Output: List of functions/classes/components requiring tests

---

2. Generate Test File Structure

Create test file with proper naming:

/**
 * Unit tests for [module name]
 *
 * Tests cover:
 * - [Functionality 1]
 * - [Functionality 2]
 * - Error handling and edge cases
 */

import { functionToTest, ClassToTest, ComponentToTest } from './Feature';
import { mockDependency } from './__mocks__/dependency';

// Mock external dependencies
jest.mock('./dependency');
jest.mock('external-library');

// ============================================================================
// Test Setup
// ============================================================================

describe('ModuleName', () => {
  // Setup before each test
  beforeEach(() => {
    jest.clearAllMocks();
  });

  // Cleanup after each test
  afterEach(() => {
    jest.restoreAllMocks();
  });

  // ========================================================================
  // Class Tests
  // ========================================================================

  describe('ClassName', () => {
    let instance: ClassToTest;

    beforeEach(() => {
      instance = new ClassToTest();
    });

    describe('constructor', () => {
      it('should initialize with valid parameters', () => {
        // Arrange & Act
        const instance = new ClassToTest({ param: 'value' });

        // Assert
        expect(instance.param).toBe('value');
        expect(instance.initialized).toBe(true);
      });

      it('should throw error with invalid parameters', () => {
        // Arrange
        const invalidParams = null;

        // Act & Assert
        expect(() => new ClassToTest(invalidParams)).toThrow('Invalid parameters');
      });
    });

    describe('method', () => {
      it('should return expected result with valid input', () => {
        // Arrange
        const input = { name: 'test', value: 123 };

        // Act
        const result = instance.method(input);

        // Assert
        expect(result.processed).toBe(true);
        expect(result.name).toBe('test');
        expect(result.value).toBe(123);
      });

      it('should throw error with invalid input', () => {
        // Arrange
        const invalidInput = null;

        // Act & Assert
        expect(() => instance.method(invalidInput)).toThrow('Invalid input');
      });

      it('should handle edge case with empty input', () => {
        // Arrange
        const emptyInput = {};

        // Act
        const result = instance.method(emptyInput);

        // Assert
        expect(result).toEqual({});
      });
    });
  });

  // ========================================================================
  // Function Tests
  // ========================================================================

  describe('functionToTest', () => {
    it('should return expected result with valid input', () => {
      // Arrange
      const input = { key: 'value' };
      const expected = { processed: true, key: 'value' };

      // Act
      const result = functionToTest(input);

      // Assert
      expect(result).toEqual(expected);
    });

    it('should handle null input', () => {
      // Arrange
      const input = null;

      // Act & Assert
      expect(() => functionToTest(input)).toThrow('Input cannot be null');
    });

    it('should handle undefined input', () => {
      // Arrange
      const input = undefined;

      // Act
      const result = functionToTest(input);

      // Assert
      expect(result).toBeUndefined();
    });
  });

  // ========================================================================
  // Tests with Mocks
  // ========================================================================

  describe('functionWithDependency', () => {
    it('should call dependency with correct parameters', () => {
      // Arrange
      const input = { key: 'value' };
      const mockDep = jest.fn().mockReturnValue({ status: 'success' });

      // Act
      const result = functionWithDependency(input, mockDep);

      // Assert
      expect(mockDep).toHaveBeenCalledWith(input);
      expect(mockDep).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
      expect(result.status).toBe('success');
    });

    it('should handle dependency error', () => {
      // Arrange
      const input = { key: 'value' };
      const mockDep = jest.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error('API error'));

      // Act & Assert
      await expect(functionWithDependency(input, mockDep))
        .rejects.toThrow('API error');
    });
  });

  // ========================================================================
  // Async Tests
  // ========================================================================

  describe('asyncFunction', () => {
    it('should resolve with expected result', async () => {
      // Arrange
      const input = { key: 'value' };

      // Act
      const result = await asyncFunction(input);

      // Assert
      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
      expect(result.data).toEqual(input);
    });

    it('should reject with error on failure', async () => {
      // Arrange
      const invalidInput = null;

      // Act & Assert
      await expect(asyncFunction(invalidInput))
        .rejects.toThrow('Invalid input');
    });

    it('should handle timeout', async () => {
      // Arrange
      jest.useFakeTimers();
      const promise = asyncFunctionWithTimeout();

      // Act
      jest.advanceTimersByTime(5000);

      // Assert
      await expect(promise).rejects.toThrow('Timeout');
      jest.useRealTimers();
    });
  });

  // ========================================================================
  // Parametrized Tests (using test.each)
  // ========================================================================

  describe('validation', () => {
    it.each([
      ['[email protected]', true],
      ['invalid.email', false],
      ['', false],
      [null, false],
      ['@no-user.com', false],
    ])('should validate email "%s" as %s', (email, expected) => {
      // Act
      const result = validateEmail(email);

      // Assert
      expect(result).toBe(expected);
    });
  });

  describe('permissions', () => {
    it.each([
      ['admin', 'all'],
      ['moderator', 'edit'],
      ['user', 'read'],
      ['guest', 'none'],
    ])('should return "%s" permission for %s user', (userType, expected) => {
      // Arrange
      const user = { type: userType };

      // Act
      const result = getPermissions(user);

      // Assert
      expect(result).toBe(expected);
    });
  });
});

Deliverable: Complete Jest test file

---

Jest-Specific Patterns

1. Mocking

Mock entire module:

jest.mock('./api', () => ({
  fetchData: jest.fn(),
  postData: jest.fn(),
}));

Mock specific function:

import { fetchData } from './api';

jest.mock('./api');

describe('Component', () => {
  it('should fetch data', async () => {
    // Arrange
    (fetchData as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue({ data: 'test' });

    // Act
    const result = await getData();

    // Assert
    expect(result.data).toBe('test');
  });
});

Mock with implementation:

const mockFn = jest.fn((x: number) => x * 2);

// Use the mock
expect(mockFn(2)).toBe(4);
expect(mockFn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(2);

Spy on method:

const obj = {
  method: () => 'original',
};

const spy = jest.spyOn(obj, 'method').mockReturnValue('mocked');

expect(obj.method()).toBe('mocked');
expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalled();

spy.mockRestore(); // Restore original implementation

2. Async Testing

Testing promises:

it('should resolve with data', async () => {
  // Using async/await
  const result = await asyncFunction();
  expect(result).toBeDefined();
});

it('should reject with error', async () => {
  // Using async/await with expect
  await expect(asyncFunction()).rejects.toThrow('Error');
});

it('should handle promise chain', () => {
  // Using .then()
  return asyncFunction().then(result => {
    expect(result).toBeDefined();
  });
});

Testing async with done callback:

it('should complete async operation', (done) => {
  asyncOperation((result) => {
    expect(result).toBe('complete');
    done();
  });
});

3. Timers

Mock timers:

describe('with fake timers', () => {
  beforeEach(() => {
    jest.useFakeTimers();
  });

  afterEach(() => {
    jest.useRealTimers();
  });

  it('should execute after timeout', () => {
    const callback = jest.fn();

    setTimeout(callback, 1000);

    // Fast-forward time
    jest.advanceTimersByTime(1000);

    expect(callback).toHaveBeenCalled();
  });

  it('should run all timers', () => {
    const callback = jest.fn();

    setTimeout(callback, 1000);
    setTimeout(callback, 2000);

    jest.runAllTimers();

    expect(callback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
  });
});

4. Snapshots

Snapshot testing:

it('should match snapshot', () => {
  const data = {
    name: 'test',
    value: 123,
    nested: {
      field: 'value',
    },
  };

  expect(data).toMatchSnapshot();
});

it('should match inline snapshot', () => {
  const result = formatData({ name: 'test' });

  expect(result).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
    {
      "formatted": true,
      "name": "test",
    }
  `);
});

5. Setup and Teardown

Test lifecycle hooks:

describe('TestSuite', () => {
  beforeAll(() => {
    // Runs once before all tests in this describe block
  });

  afterAll(() => {
    // Runs once after all tests in this describe block
  });

  beforeEach(() => {
    // Runs before each test in this describe block
  });

  afterEach(() => {
    // Runs after each test in this describe block
  });

  it('test 1', () => {});
  it('test 2', () => {});
});

6. Matchers

Common Jest matchers:

// Equality
expect(value).toBe(expected);          // Strict equality (===)
expect(value).toEqual(expected);        // Deep equality
expect(value).toStrictEqual(expected);  // Strict deep equality

// Truthiness
expect(value).toBeTruthy();
expect(value).toBeFalsy();
expect(value).toBeNull();
expect(value).toBeUndefined();
expect(value).toBeDefined();

// Numbers
expect(value).toBeGreaterThan(3);
expect(value).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(3);
expect(value).toBeLessThan(5);
expect(value).toBeLessThanOrEqual(5);
expect(value).toBeCloseTo(0.3, 5); // For floating point

// Strings
expect(string).toMatch(/pattern/);
expect(string).toContain('substring');

// Arrays and iterables
expect(array).toContain(item);
expect(array).toHaveLength(3);
expect(array).toContainEqual(item);

// Objects
expect(obj).toHaveProperty('key');
expect(obj).toHaveProperty('key', value);
expect(obj).toMatchObject({ key: value });

// Functions
expect(fn).toThrow();
expect(fn).toThrow('error message');
expect(fn).toThrow(ErrorClass);

// Promises
await expect(promise).resolves.toBe(value);
await expect(promise).rejects.toThrow();

// Mock functions
expect(mockFn).toHaveBeenCalled();
expect(mockFn).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
expect(mockFn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(arg1, arg2);
expect(mockFn).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(arg);

---

React Component Testing

Basic Component Test

import React from 'react';
import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react';
import '@testing-library/jest-dom';
import { Button } from './Button';

describe('Button', () => {
  it('should render with text', () => {
    // Arrange & Act
    render(<Button>Click me</Button>);

    // Assert
    expect(screen.getByText('Click me')).toBeInTheDocument();
  });

  it('should call onClick when clicked', () => {
    // Arrange
    const handleClick = jest.fn();
    render(<Button onClick={handleClick}>Click me</Button>);

    // Act
    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Click me'));

    // Assert
    expect(handleClick).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
  });

  it('should be disabled when disabled prop is true', () => {
    // Arrange & Act
    render(<Button disabled>Click me</Button>);

    // Assert
    expect(screen.getByText('Click me')).toBeDisabled();
  });
});

Component with Hooks

import { renderHook, act } from '@testing-library/react';
import { useCounter } from './useCounter';

describe('useCounter', () => {
  it('should initialize with default value', () => {
    // Arrange & Act
    const { result } = renderHook(() => useCounter());

    // Assert
    expect(result.current.count).toBe(0);
  });

  it('should increment count', () => {
    // Arrange
    const { result } = renderHook(() => useCounter());

    // Act
    act(() => {
      result.current.increment();
    });

    // Assert
    expect(result.current.count).toBe(1);
  });
});

---

Running Jest

Basic commands:

# Run all tests
npm test
# or
jest

# Run specific file
jest src/components/Feature.test.ts

# Run tests matching pattern
jest Feature

# Run with coverage
jest --coverage

# Run in watch mode
jest --watch

# Run with verbose output
jest --verbose

# Update snapshots
jest --updateSnapshot
# or
jest -u

Coverage commands:

# Generate coverage report
jest --coverage

# View HTML report
open coverage/lcov-report/index.html

# Coverage with threshold
jest --coverage --coverageThreshold='{"global":{"branches":80,"functions":80,"lines":80,"statements":80}}'

---

Best Practices

1. Use descriptive test names: should <expected> when <condition>
2. Organize with describe blocks: Group related tests
3. Use beforeEach/afterEach: Clean setup and teardown
4. Mock external dependencies: Isolate unit under test
5. Test user behavior: For components, test what users see/do
6. Use test.each for similar tests: Reduce duplication
7. Keep tests independent: No test depends on another
8. Test edge cases: Null, undefined, empty values
9. Test error conditions: Exceptions and rejections
10. Use appropriate matchers: Choose the most specific matcher

---

TypeScript-Specific Considerations

Type-safe mocks:

import { MockedFunction } from 'jest-mock';

const mockFn: MockedFunction<typeof realFunction> = jest.fn();

Type assertions:

const mock = jest.fn() as jest.MockedFunction<typeof original>;

Generic mocks:

interface ApiResponse<T> {
  data: T;
  status: number;
}

const mockApi = jest.fn<Promise<ApiResponse<User>>, [string]>();

---

Quality Checklist

Before marking tests complete:

• Test file properly named (<module>.test.ts)
• All exported functions/classes/components tested
• Happy path tests included
• Edge case tests included (null, undefined, empty)
• Error condition tests included
• External dependencies mocked
• Tests organized with describe blocks
• beforeEach/afterEach used for setup/cleanup
• Test names are descriptive
• All tests pass
• Coverage ≥ 80%
• No snapshot tests without purpose
• Tests run quickly

---

Integration with Testing Workflow

Input: JavaScript/TypeScript source file to test Process: Analyze → Generate structure → Write tests → Run & verify Output: Jest test file with ≥ 80% coverage Next Step: Integration testing or code review

---

Remember

• Follow naming convention: <source_file>.test.ts
• Use describe blocks for organization
• Mock external dependencies to isolate tests
• Test behavior, not implementation
• Use appropriate matchers for clarity
• Aim for 80%+ coverage
• Keep tests fast and independent
• For React: test what users see and do