React Testing Library Vs. Enzyme in React tests

Testing is crucial for building reliable React applications, but choosing the right library to create test cases can be a challenging task. With many options available, React Testing Library (RTL) and Enzyme stand out as the most popular choices and developers often find themselves debating over React Testing Library vs. Enzyme. Each follows a unique approach, which makes them suitable for different testing needs.

So, How to decide that which one is the best fit for test cases in your project? In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between React-Test-Library vs. Enzyme, their advantages and limitations in test cases, to help you decide for your current project in 2025.

What is React Testing Library (RTL)?

React Testing Library (RTL) is a modern testing framework with a user-centric approach, making it easier for developers to test applications as users would interact with them, rather than getting bogged down in the nitty-gritty details of the implementation test code. React Testing Library is built on top of the DOM Testing Library, which helps create user-simulated testing scenarios.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Promotes best testing practices by simulating user interactions.

• Seamlessly integrates with modern React features like Hooks and Context API.

• Built on Jest, ensuring easy integration.

• Actively maintained and recommended by the React community.

• Allows for consistent testing methodologies across the same test scenario.

Why to use Test React Components?

Testing React components is crucial to ensure they function as expected and remain robust as the react codebase evolves. By thoroughly testing your react components output, you can catch bugs early, verify that components render correctly, and ensure they respond to user interactions as intended. This proactive approach helps prevent issues from reaching production, reducing the time spent on debugging and making it easier to refactor code without introducing new problems. Comprehensive tests also improve maintainability, allowing developers to confidently make changes and enhancements to the react code-base. In essence, testing react components is a vital practice for delivering reliable and high-quality applications

When to Use React Testing Library?

• Ideal for testing behavior over implementation.

• Perfect for projects using modern React features like hooks and context.

• Best for writing accessible and maintainable tests.

• Ideal for ensuring that the tested component behaves as expected in user-centric scenarios using React Testing Library.

How to Use React Testing Library ?

When you create a React app using Create React App (CRA), it comes with React Testing Library and Jest already set up. You can start creating test code and writing it right away.

However, if you're working on a React app without CRA, you'll need to manually install React Testing Library and Jest using NPM. React Testing Library provides useful methods to help in writing tests, but it still depends on a JavaScript test framework like Jest to run the tests. So, you'll need to write test cases accordingly.

What is Enzyme?

Enzyme is a powerful JavaScript Testing utility for React that provides various, utility methods and functions for testing components efficiently. It provides a set of tools to mount, render, and manipulate React components, to examine their state, props, and lifecycle methods easily.

This library is mostly useful for testing components with complex internal logic. It also allows you to simulate user interactions, which is particularly helpful when testing complex components with significant internal logic or dependencies on external services.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Supports both shallow and deep rendering, offering flexibility in how you test components.

• Allows testing of internal implementation details, which can be useful for complex components.

• Well-suited for projects that require detailed testing of component structure.

When to Use Enzyme for React Testing?

• Ideal for testing component structure, props, and lifecycle methods.

• Best for projects using class components or requiring shallow rendering.

• Useful for simulating user interactions and verifying state changes.

• Allows detailed control over component rendering and updates.

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How to Use Enzyme Testing Library ?

Enzyme is a popular testing library for React that makes it easier to test components by providing utilities to interact with and inspect them. To use Enzyme in your React project, you need to install it using an NPM command.

Example: Testing a Toggle Button Component

Consider a React component called ToggleButton. This button switches between On and Off when clicked. A test case can be written to verify that the initial state is Off and that clicking the button updates the state correctly. you can simulate user interactions and check if the component behaves as expected with the use of Enzyme. This helps ensure the component functions correctly before deployment.

Key Differences Between React Testing Library and Enzyme

Testing Approach

When it comes to testing React components, there are two primary approaches: testing implementation details and testing user interactions. Enzyme is known for its focus on user interface and testing implementation details, providing developers with tools to access and manipulate the internal state and structure of components. This can be particularly useful for complex components where understanding the internal workings is essential.

On the other hand, React Testing Library adopts a user-centric approach unit testing, encouraging developers to write tests that simulate real-world user interactions with react app. This method aligns with how users interact with the application, ensuring that components behave as expected in various scenarios. By focusing on the user behavior and interactions, it helps developers write tests that are more resilient to changes in implementation, leading to more maintainable and reliable test suites.

Support and Compatibility

Support and compatibility are critical factors when choosing a testing library for React components. an enzyme testing library that has been around since 2015, boasts a well-established ecosystem. However, its current version (3.11.0) was released over three years ago, and it officially supports React up to version 16, requiring an adjusted adapter for newer versions.

In contrast, React Testing Library is actively maintained, with its current version (13.4.0) released recently. It supports more advanced features of React up to version 18, making it a more future-proof choice for projects using the latest React features. The active maintenance and frequent updates of it ensure that it stays compatible with the latest React versions and best practices, providing developers with a reliable and up-to-date testing framework.

Which One Is Faster?

• RTL is generally faster because it avoids shallow rendering and encourages direct interactions.

• Enzyme can be slower when dealing with deep rendering due to component dependencies. Enzyme tests can be slower when dealing with deep rendering due to component dependencies.

Setting Up React Testing Library and Enzyme (Step-by-Step Guide)

Installing React Testing Library

npm install --save-dev @testing-library/react

Installing Enzyme

npm install --save-dev enzyme enzyme-adapter-react-16

Basic Test with React Testing Library

import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
import MyComponent from './MyComponent';

test('renders button and checks click event', () => {
  render(<MyComponent />);
  const button = screen.getByText(/Click Me/i);
  userEvent.click(button);
  expect(screen.getByText(/Clicked!/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
});

Basic Test with Enzyme

Enzyme allows developers to simulate user interactions child components, such as clicks, to test component behavior.

import { shallow } from 'enzyme'; import MyComponent from './MyComponent';

test('renders button and simulates click event', () => { const wrapper = shallow(< MyComponent />); wrapper.find('button').simulate('click'); expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Clicked!'); });

Best Practices for Testing React Components

When it comes to testing React components, think about how real people use your app, not just the tiny details of the code. Testing components effectively requires a focus on user interactions and component behavior. Keep your tests straightforward by using mocks wisely, so you can focus on the important stuff. Aim for tests that are quick to run, reliable, and easy to maintain. If you’re starting a new project, go with React Testing Library to stay in sync with the latest React trends. But if you’re working with an older project that needs more control, Enzyme might be your go-to choice.

Choosing a Testing Library for React Components

Choosing the right testing library for React components depends on various factors, including the specific needs of the project, the type of components being tested, and personal preference for various testing frameworks. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

Considerations for Choosing a Testing Library

• Testing approach: Do you want to focus on testing implementation details or simulating user interactions? Enzyme is better suited for the former, while React Testing Library is ideal for the latter.

• Component type: If you’re working with class-based components, Enzyme might be a better choice. For functional components, React Testing Library is a better fit.

• React version: If you’re using a newer version of React (17 or 18), React Testing Library is a better choice due to its native support.

• Maintenance and updates: Consider the maintenance and update frequency of the testing library. React Testing Library is actively maintained, while Enzyme’s updates have slowed down.

• Ecosystem and community: Look at the size and activity of the community surrounding the testing library. React Testing Library has a growing community and is widely adopted.

• Ultimately, the choice between Enzyme and React Testing Library depends on your specific needs and preferences for test cases. By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose the testing library that best fits your project’s requirements.

Future of React Testing: Is Enzyme Becoming Obsolete?

With React’s shift towards functional components and hooks, testing utility of the enzyme testing library vs react testing library has become a crucial discussion. React Testing Library is now the preferred test runner of choice, as Enzyme has limited support for hooks and newer React versions.

Should You Migrate from Enzyme to React Testing Library?

• If your project uses modern React (16.8+), switching to RTL is a smart move. Migrating from Enzyme testing to React Testing Library can simplify the testing process for modern React applications.

• If your app still has class components, Enzyme might still be relevant.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose React Testing Library if:

• You're working on a modern project with functional components and hooks.

• You prefer a user-driven testing approach that focuses on real interactions.

• You want better compatibility with future React updates and long-term support.

• Your goal is to write tests that closely resemble how users interact with the application.

• You value maintainability and want to avoid relying on implementation details.

Choose Enzyme if:

• Your project is heavily reliant on class components and lifecycle methods.

• You need shallow rendering to isolate component tests and avoid deep dependencies.

• You have an existing test suite written in Enzyme and want to maintain consistency.

• You require direct state and prop manipulation for detailed component behavior testing.

• Your team is already familiar with Enzyme and transitioning isn’t feasible in the short term.

Final Thoughts

The choice between Enzyme and React Testing Library can significantly impact your project's testing strategy. Both the libraries have their own strengths and cater to different testing needs, the trend within the React community is increasingly leaning towards the React Testing Library. This shift is largely due to its user-centric approach snapshot testing, which aligns with modern React practices, especially with the rise of functional components and hooks.

Choosing the right testing tool for react project is crucial for maintaining the reliability, scalability, and future-proof nature of your React applications. If you're starting fresh or working on a project that heavily utilizes the latest React features, React Testing Library offers a more intuitive and user-driven testing experience. It helps you focus on how users interact with your application, providing more confidence that your components work correctly in real-world scenarios.