Agent-skills react-native-testing

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/callstackincubator/agent-skills
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/callstackincubator/agent-skills "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/plugins/vendored/.agents/skills/react-native-testing" ~/.claude/skills/callstackincubator-agent-skills-react-native-testing && rm -rf "$T"
manifest: plugins/vendored/.agents/skills/react-native-testing/SKILL.md
source content

RNTL Test Writing Guide

IMPORTANT: Your training data about

@testing-library/react-native
may be outdated or incorrect — API signatures, sync/async behavior, and available functions differ between v13 and v14. Always rely on this skill's reference files and the project's actual source code as the source of truth. Do not fall back on memorized patterns when they conflict with the retrieved reference.

Version Detection

Check

@testing-library/react-native
version in the user's
package.json
:

Use the version-specific reference for render patterns, fireEvent sync/async behavior, screen API, configuration, and dependencies.

Query Priority

Use in this order:

getByRole
>
getByLabelText
>
getByPlaceholderText
>
getByText
>
getByDisplayValue
>
getByTestId
(last resort).

Query Variants

VariantUse caseReturnsAsync
getBy*
Element must existelement instance (throws)No
getAllBy*
Multiple must existelement instance[] (throws)No
queryBy*
Check non-existence ONLYelement instance | nullNo
queryAllBy*
Count elementselement instance[]No
findBy*
Wait for element
Promise<element instance>
Yes
findAllBy*
Wait for multiple
Promise<element instance[]>
Yes

Interactions

Prefer

userEvent
over
fireEvent
. userEvent is always async.

const user = userEvent.setup();
await user.press(element); // full press sequence
await user.longPress(element, { duration: 800 }); // long press
await user.type(textInput, 'Hello'); // char-by-char typing
await user.clear(textInput); // clear TextInput
await user.paste(textInput, 'pasted text'); // paste into TextInput
await user.scrollTo(scrollView, { y: 100 }); // scroll

fireEvent
— use only when
userEvent
doesn't support the event. See version-specific reference for sync/async behavior:

fireEvent.press(element);
fireEvent.changeText(textInput, 'new text');
fireEvent(element, 'blur');

Assertions (Jest Matchers)

Available automatically with any

@testing-library/react-native
import.

MatcherUse for
toBeOnTheScreen()
Element exists in tree
toBeVisible()
Element visible (not hidden/display:none)
toBeEnabled()
/
toBeDisabled()
Disabled state via
aria-disabled
toBeChecked()
/
toBePartiallyChecked()
Checked state
toBeSelected()
Selected state
toBeExpanded()
/
toBeCollapsed()
Expanded state
toBeBusy()
Busy state
toHaveTextContent(text)
Text content match
toHaveDisplayValue(value)
TextInput display value
toHaveAccessibleName(name)
Accessible name
toHaveAccessibilityValue(val)
Accessibility value
toHaveStyle(style)
Style match
toHaveProp(name, value?)
Prop check (last resort)
toContainElement(el)
Contains child element
toBeEmptyElement()
No children

Rules

  1. Use
    screen
    for queries, not destructuring from
    render()
  2. Use
    getByRole
    first
    with
    { name: '...' }
    option
  3. Use
    queryBy*
    ONLY
    for
    .not.toBeOnTheScreen()
    checks
  4. Use
    findBy*
    for async elements, NOT
    waitFor
    +
    getBy*
  5. Never put side-effects in
    waitFor
    (no
    fireEvent
    /
    userEvent
    inside)
  6. One assertion per
    waitFor
  7. Never pass empty callbacks to
    waitFor
  8. Don't wrap in
    act()
    -
    render
    ,
    fireEvent
    ,
    userEvent
    handle it
  9. Don't call
    cleanup()
    - automatic after each test
  10. Prefer ARIA props (
    role
    ,
    aria-label
    ,
    aria-disabled
    ) over legacy
    accessibility*
    props
  11. Use RNTL matchers over raw prop assertions

*ByRole
Quick Reference

Common roles:

button
,
text
,
heading
(alias:
header
),
searchbox
,
switch
,
checkbox
,
radio
,
img
,
link
,
alert
,
menu
,
menuitem
,
tab
,
tablist
,
progressbar
,
slider
,
spinbutton
,
timer
,
toolbar
.

getByRole
options:
{ name, disabled, selected, checked, busy, expanded, value: { min, max, now, text } }
.

For

*ByRole
to match, the element must be an accessibility element:

  • Text
    ,
    TextInput
    ,
    Switch
    are by default
  • View
    needs
    accessible={true}
    (or use
    Pressable
    /
    TouchableOpacity
    )

waitFor

// Correct: action first, then wait for result
fireEvent.press(button);
await waitFor(() => {
  expect(screen.getByText('Result')).toBeOnTheScreen();
});

// Better: use findBy* instead
fireEvent.press(button);
expect(await screen.findByText('Result')).toBeOnTheScreen();

Options:

waitFor(cb, { timeout: 1000, interval: 50 })
. Works with Jest fake timers automatically.

Fake Timers

Recommended with

userEvent
(press/longPress involve real durations):

jest.useFakeTimers();

test('with fake timers', async () => {
  const user = userEvent.setup();
  render(<Component />);
  await user.press(screen.getByRole('button'));
  // ...
});

Custom Render

Wrap providers using

wrapper
option:

function renderWithProviders(ui: React.ReactElement) {
  return render(ui, {
    wrapper: ({ children }) => (
      <ThemeProvider>
        <AuthProvider>{children}</AuthProvider>
      </ThemeProvider>
    ),
  });
}

References

  • v13 API Reference — Complete v13 API: sync render, queries, matchers, userEvent, React 19 compat
  • v14 API Reference — Complete v14 API: async render, queries, matchers, userEvent, migration
  • Anti-Patterns — Common mistakes to avoid