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React Testing

DebuggAI provides comprehensive end-to-end testing capabilities for React applications through our VS Code and Cursor extensions. Test your React apps directly from your IDE with zero configuration, whether you're using Create React App, Vite, or custom build setups.

Overview​

React applications are ideal for DebuggAI's AI-powered testing approach. Our agents understand React component behavior, state management, and user interactions, providing comprehensive testing coverage without the complexity of traditional testing frameworks.

Prerequisites​

Before testing your React application with DebuggAI:

  • React 16.x or later (supports all modern React features)
  • DebuggAI extension installed in VS Code or Cursor
  • Your React development server running locally
  • DebuggAI account connected through the extension

Getting Started​

Step 1: Start Your React Development Server​

Make sure your React application is running locally:

# Create React App
npm start

# Vite
npm run dev

# Custom webpack setup
npm run dev

# Yarn
yarn start

Your app will typically be available at http://localhost:3000 (Create React App) or http://localhost:5173 (Vite).

Step 2: Configure the Extension​

  1. Open VS Code or Cursor
  2. Access DebuggAI extension settings (Cmd+, / Ctrl+,)
  3. Search for "DebuggAI"
  4. Set "Local Server Port" to match your React dev server port

Step 3: Create Your First Test​

  1. Open Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P)
  2. Run "DebuggAI: Create New E2E Test" or use Cmd+Alt+C / Ctrl+Alt+C
  3. Describe your test in natural language

React-Specific Testing Scenarios​

Component Testing​

DebuggAI can test individual React components and their interactions:

Example test descriptions:
• Test button click changes state correctly
• Verify form validation displays error messages
• Test modal opens and closes properly
• Check dropdown menu functionality

State Management Testing​

Test different state management approaches:

React State (useState, useReducer):

Example test descriptions:
• Test counter component increments correctly
• Verify form state updates on input changes
• Test todo list adds and removes items
• Check shopping cart state management

Context API:

Example test descriptions:
• Test theme context switches between light/dark
• Verify user context updates across components
• Test language context changes app locale
• Check cart context persists across pages

External State Management (Redux, Zustand, etc.):

Example test descriptions:
• Test Redux store updates on user actions
• Verify Zustand state persistence
• Test state synchronization across components
• Check optimistic updates in the UI

React Router Testing​

Test navigation and routing behavior:

Example test descriptions:
• Test navigation between different routes
• Verify protected routes redirect to login
• Test dynamic route parameters work
• Check 404 page for invalid routes
• Test browser back/forward navigation

Hooks Testing​

DebuggAI can verify custom hook behavior through the UI:

Example test descriptions:
• Test custom useAuth hook login flow
• Verify useLocalStorage hook persists data
• Test useApi hook loading and error states
• Check useDebounce hook delays API calls

Modern React Features​

React 18+ Features​

DebuggAI supports all modern React features:

Concurrent Features:

  • Tests React.Suspense and lazy loading
  • Verifies useTransition for non-blocking updates
  • Tests useDeferredValue for performance optimization

Automatic Batching:

  • Validates multiple state updates batch correctly
  • Tests async function state updates

Strict Mode:

  • Works correctly with React.StrictMode enabled
  • Handles double-rendering in development

Server Components (React Server Components)​

For frameworks supporting RSC:

Example test descriptions:
• Test server component renders data correctly
• Verify client components hydrate properly
• Test streaming with Suspense boundaries
• Check server-client component interaction

Testing Different React Build Tools​

Create React App​

DebuggAI works seamlessly with CRA:

# Standard CRA setup
npx create-react-app my-app
cd my-app
npm start

# DebuggAI automatically detects CRA configuration

Vite​

Perfect integration with Vite's fast development server:

# Vite React setup
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react
cd my-app
npm install
npm run dev

# Configure DebuggAI extension for port 5173

Custom Webpack​

Works with any custom React setup:

// webpack.config.js
module.exports = {
  // DebuggAI works with any webpack configuration
  entry: './src/index.js',
  devServer: {
    port: 3000, // Configure extension for your port
  },
  // Custom configurations are automatically handled
};

Next.js with React​

See our Next.js documentation for Next.js-specific testing patterns.

Advanced React Testing Patterns​

Component Lifecycle Testing​

Test Description: "Test user profile component loads and updates data"

DebuggAI will:
1. Navigate to user profile page
2. Verify component mounts with loading state
3. Check data loads and displays correctly
4. Test form updates trigger re-renders
5. Verify cleanup on component unmount

Error Boundary Testing​

Test Description: "Test error boundary catches and displays errors"

DebuggAI will:
1. Trigger an error in a child component
2. Verify error boundary catches the error
3. Check fallback UI displays correctly
4. Test error reporting functionality
5. Verify app remains stable

Performance Testing​

Test Description: "Test large list component performance with virtualization"

DebuggAI will:
1. Navigate to component with large dataset
2. Verify initial render performance
3. Test scrolling performance
4. Check memory usage patterns
5. Validate smooth user interactions

Accessibility Testing​

Test Description: "Test form accessibility with screen reader navigation"

DebuggAI will:
1. Navigate form using keyboard only
2. Verify proper ARIA labels
3. Test focus management
4. Check color contrast and visibility
5. Validate semantic HTML structure

Testing React with External Libraries​

UI Libraries​

DebuggAI works with popular React UI libraries:

Material-UI (MUI):

Example test descriptions:
• Test MUI dialog opens and closes correctly
• Verify MUI form validation works
• Test MUI data grid sorting and filtering
• Check MUI theme customization applies

Chakra UI:

Example test descriptions:
• Test Chakra modal functionality
• Verify Chakra form components work
• Test responsive breakpoints
• Check Chakra theme switching

Ant Design:

Example test descriptions:
• Test Ant Design table pagination
• Verify Ant Design form validation
• Test Ant Design date picker
• Check Ant Design notification system

React Query / TanStack Query​

Test data fetching and caching:

Example test descriptions:
• Test React Query caches API responses
• Verify loading states during data fetch
• Test error handling with React Query
• Check optimistic updates work correctly

Form Libraries​

Test form handling with popular libraries:

React Hook Form:

Example test descriptions:
• Test React Hook Form validation
• Verify form submission with RHF
• Test dynamic form fields
• Check form reset functionality

Formik:

Example test descriptions:
• Test Formik form validation
• Verify Formik field arrays
• Test async validation
• Check form submission handling

Best Practices for React Testing​

Organizing Tests by User Journey​

Structure tests around complete user experiences:

User Registration Journey:
• Test signup form validation
• Test email verification process
• Test profile completion flow
• Test first-time user onboarding

Shopping Experience:
• Test product search and filtering
• Test adding items to cart
• Test checkout process
• Test order confirmation

Testing Component Integration​

Focus on how components work together:

Example test descriptions:
• Test parent-child component communication
• Verify sibling components share state correctly
• Test component composition patterns
• Check higher-order component behavior

Responsive Design Testing​

Ensure your React app works across devices:

Example test descriptions:
• Test responsive layout on mobile devices
• Verify touch gestures work on components
• Test responsive navigation menu
• Check component behavior on different screen sizes

Debugging React Tests​

Common Issues and Solutions​

State Updates:

  • DebuggAI waits for async state updates
  • Tests account for React's batching behavior
  • Handles both synchronous and asynchronous updates

Component Re-renders:

  • Tests work with React's reconciliation
  • Accounts for component lifecycle methods
  • Handles memo and callback optimizations

Development vs Production:

  • Tests run against development builds
  • Includes React development warnings
  • Uses development-mode error messages

React Developer Tools Integration​

While DebuggAI doesn't directly integrate with React DevTools, test results include:

  • Component State: Inferred from UI behavior
  • Props Validation: Through interaction testing
  • Performance Insights: Render timing and optimization
  • Hook Dependencies: Tested through user interactions

Integration with Development Workflow​

Hot Module Replacement (HMR)​

DebuggAI works seamlessly with HMR:

  • Tests adapt to code changes automatically
  • No need to restart tests after code updates
  • Maintains test state during development

TypeScript Support​

Full support for TypeScript React projects:

// DebuggAI works with TypeScript React components
interface Props {
  title: string;
  onSubmit: (data: FormData) => void;
}

const MyComponent: React.FC<Props> = ({ title, onSubmit }) => {
  // Component implementation
};

ESLint and Prettier​

DebuggAI respects your code formatting and linting:

  • Works with any ESLint configuration
  • Supports Prettier formatting
  • Adapts to your team's coding standards

Team Collaboration​

Shared Testing Standards​

Establish consistent testing patterns across your React team:

  • Component Testing: Standard approaches for testing UI components
  • Integration Testing: Patterns for testing component interactions
  • Performance Testing: Baseline performance expectations
  • Accessibility Testing: Consistent accessibility standards

Code Review Integration​

Include DebuggAI test results in code reviews:

  • Visual Documentation: Screenshots of component behavior
  • Interaction Recordings: GIFs showing user flows
  • Performance Metrics: Component render times and optimization
  • Error Scenarios: How components handle edge cases

Next Steps​