Overview

The react-hooks-testing-library is a testing library that provides a simple test harness for React hooks, allowing for easier testing of custom hooks by handling their execution within the body of a function component. It also offers utility functions for updating inputs and retrieving outputs of hooks, aiming to provide a testing experience close to using the hook within a real component.

Features

• Test Harness for React Hooks: Allows running hooks within the body of a function component.
• Utility Functions: Provides functions for updating inputs and retrieving outputs of custom hooks.
• Native Testing Experience: Aims to replicate the experience of using hooks within a real component for testing purposes.

Installation

To install the react-hooks-testing-library, you need to install the appropriate peer dependencies and the library itself. First, install the library:

npm install @testing-library/react-hooks

Next, install either react-test-renderer or react-dom, as the library does not come bundled with these:

npm install react-dom
# OR
npm install react-test-renderer

For more detailed installation instructions, refer to the installation docs.

Summary

The react-hooks-testing-library is a valuable tool for testing custom hooks in React applications. By providing a test harness, utility functions, and a native testing experience, it simplifies the testing process for hooks that are not directly tied to components or are complex to test through component interactions. It allows developers to focus on testing the hook’s functionality directly without the need to construct or render components solely for testing purposes.