Test Writer

Skill: Test Writer for Concept Pages

Use this skill to generate comprehensive Vitest tests for all code examples in a concept documentation page. Tests verify that code examples in the documentation are accurate and work as described.

When to Use

• After writing a new concept page
• When adding new code examples to existing pages
• When updating existing code examples
• To verify documentation accuracy through automated tests
• Before publishing to ensure all examples work correctly

Test Writing Methodology

Follow these four phases to create comprehensive tests for a concept page.

Phase 1: Code Example Extraction

Scan the concept page for all code examples and categorize them:

Phase 2: Determine Test File Structure

tests/
├── fundamentals/              # Concepts 1-6
├── functions-execution/       # Concepts 7-8
├── web-platform/             # Concepts 9-10
├── object-oriented/          # Concepts 11-15
├── functional-programming/   # Concepts 16-19
├── async-javascript/         # Concepts 20-22
├── advanced-topics/          # Concepts 23-31
└── beyond/                   # Extended concepts
    └── {subcategory}/

File naming:

• Standard tests: {concept-name}.test.js
• DOM tests: {concept-name}.dom.test.js

Phase 3: Convert Examples to Tests

For each testable code example:

1. Identify the expected output (from console.log comments or documented behavior)
2. Convert to expect assertions
3. Add source line reference in comments
4. Group related tests in describe blocks matching documentation sections

Phase 4: Handle Special Cases

Project Test Conventions

Import Pattern

import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'

For DOM tests or tests needing mocks:

import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'

DOM Test File Header

/**
 * @vitest-environment jsdom
 */
import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'

Describe Block Organization

Match the structure of the documentation:

describe('Concept Name', () => {
  describe('Section from Documentation', () => {
    describe('Subsection if needed', () => {
      it('should [specific behavior]', () => {
        // Test
      })
    })
  })
})

Test Naming Convention

• Start with "should"
• Be descriptive and specific
• Match the documented behavior

// Good
it('should return "object" for typeof null', () => {})
it('should throw TypeError when accessing property of undefined', () => {})
it('should resolve promises in order they were created', () => {})

// Bad
it('test typeof', () => {})
it('works correctly', () => {})
it('null test', () => {})

Source Line References

Always reference the documentation source:

// ============================================================
// SECTION NAME FROM DOCUMENTATION
// From {concept}.mdx lines XX-YY
// ============================================================

describe('Section Name', () => {
  // From lines 45-52: Basic typeof examples
  it('should return correct type strings', () => {
    // Test
  })
})

Test Patterns Reference

Pattern 1: Basic Value Assertion

Documentation:

console.log(typeof "hello")  // "string"
console.log(typeof 42)       // "number"

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: typeof examples
it('should return correct type for primitives', () => {
  expect(typeof "hello").toBe("string")
  expect(typeof 42).toBe("number")
})

Pattern 2: Multiple Related Assertions

Documentation:

let a = "hello"
let b = "hello"
console.log(a === b)  // true

let obj1 = { x: 1 }
let obj2 = { x: 1 }
console.log(obj1 === obj2)  // false

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Primitive vs object comparison
it('should compare primitives by value', () => {
  let a = "hello"
  let b = "hello"
  expect(a === b).toBe(true)
})

it('should compare objects by reference', () => {
  let obj1 = { x: 1 }
  let obj2 = { x: 1 }
  expect(obj1 === obj2).toBe(false)
})

Pattern 3: Function Return Values

Documentation:

function greet(name) {
  return "Hello, " + name + "!"
}

console.log(greet("Alice"))  // "Hello, Alice!"

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: greet function example
it('should return greeting with name', () => {
  function greet(name) {
    return "Hello, " + name + "!"
  }
  
  expect(greet("Alice")).toBe("Hello, Alice!")
})

Pattern 4: Error Testing

Documentation:

// This throws an error!
const obj = null
console.log(obj.property)  // TypeError: Cannot read property of null

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Accessing property of null
it('should throw TypeError when accessing property of null', () => {
  const obj = null
  
  expect(() => {
    obj.property
  }).toThrow(TypeError)
})

Pattern 5: Specific Error Messages

Documentation:

function divide(a, b) {
  if (b === 0) throw new Error("Cannot divide by zero")
  return a / b
}

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: divide function with error
it('should throw error when dividing by zero', () => {
  function divide(a, b) {
    if (b === 0) throw new Error("Cannot divide by zero")
    return a / b
  }
  
  expect(() => divide(10, 0)).toThrow("Cannot divide by zero")
  expect(divide(10, 2)).toBe(5)
})

Pattern 6: Async/Await Testing

Documentation:

async function fetchUser(id) {
  const response = await fetch(`/api/users/${id}`)
  return response.json()
}

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: async fetchUser function
it('should fetch user data asynchronously', async () => {
  // Mock fetch for testing
  global.fetch = vi.fn(() =>
    Promise.resolve({
      json: () => Promise.resolve({ id: 1, name: 'Alice' })
    })
  )
  
  async function fetchUser(id) {
    const response = await fetch(`/api/users/${id}`)
    return response.json()
  }
  
  const user = await fetchUser(1)
  expect(user).toEqual({ id: 1, name: 'Alice' })
})

Pattern 7: Promise Testing

Documentation:

const promise = new Promise((resolve) => {
  resolve("done")
})

promise.then(result => console.log(result))  // "done"

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Basic Promise resolution
it('should resolve with correct value', async () => {
  const promise = new Promise((resolve) => {
    resolve("done")
  })
  
  await expect(promise).resolves.toBe("done")
})

Pattern 8: Promise Rejection

Documentation:

const promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
  reject(new Error("Something went wrong"))
})

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Promise rejection
it('should reject with error', async () => {
  const promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    reject(new Error("Something went wrong"))
  })
  
  await expect(promise).rejects.toThrow("Something went wrong")
})

Pattern 9: Floating Point Comparison

Documentation:

console.log(0.1 + 0.2)         // 0.30000000000000004
console.log(0.1 + 0.2 === 0.3) // false

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Floating point precision
it('should demonstrate floating point imprecision', () => {
  expect(0.1 + 0.2).not.toBe(0.3)
  expect(0.1 + 0.2).toBeCloseTo(0.3)
  expect(0.1 + 0.2 === 0.3).toBe(false)
})

Pattern 10: Array Method Testing

Documentation:

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
const doubled = numbers.map(n => n * 2)
console.log(doubled)  // [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Array map example
it('should double all numbers in array', () => {
  const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  const doubled = numbers.map(n => n * 2)
  
  expect(doubled).toEqual([2, 4, 6, 8, 10])
  expect(numbers).toEqual([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]) // Original unchanged
})

Pattern 11: Object Mutation Testing

Documentation:

const obj = { a: 1 }
obj.b = 2
console.log(obj)  // { a: 1, b: 2 }

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Object mutation
it('should allow adding properties to objects', () => {
  const obj = { a: 1 }
  obj.b = 2
  
  expect(obj).toEqual({ a: 1, b: 2 })
})

Pattern 12: Closure Testing

Documentation:

function counter() {
  let count = 0
  return function() {
    count++
    return count
  }
}

const increment = counter()
console.log(increment())  // 1
console.log(increment())  // 2
console.log(increment())  // 3

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Closure counter example
it('should maintain state across calls via closure', () => {
  function counter() {
    let count = 0
    return function() {
      count++
      return count
    }
  }
  
  const increment = counter()
  expect(increment()).toBe(1)
  expect(increment()).toBe(2)
  expect(increment()).toBe(3)
})

it('should create independent counters', () => {
  function counter() {
    let count = 0
    return function() {
      count++
      return count
    }
  }
  
  const counter1 = counter()
  const counter2 = counter()
  
  expect(counter1()).toBe(1)
  expect(counter1()).toBe(2)
  expect(counter2()).toBe(1) // Independent
})

Pattern 13: DOM Event Testing

Documentation:

const button = document.getElementById('myButton')
button.addEventListener('click', function(event) {
  console.log('Button clicked!')
  console.log(event.type)  // "click"
})

Test (in .dom.test.js file):

/**
 * @vitest-environment jsdom
 */
import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'

describe('DOM Event Handlers', () => {
  let button
  
  beforeEach(() => {
    button = document.createElement('button')
    button.id = 'myButton'
    document.body.appendChild(button)
  })
  
  afterEach(() => {
    document.body.innerHTML = ''
  })
  
  // From lines XX-YY: Button click event
  it('should fire click event handler', () => {
    const output = []
    
    button.addEventListener('click', function(event) {
      output.push('Button clicked!')
      output.push(event.type)
    })
    
    button.click()
    
    expect(output).toEqual(['Button clicked!', 'click'])
  })
})

Pattern 14: DOM Manipulation Testing

Documentation:

const div = document.createElement('div')
div.textContent = 'Hello'
div.classList.add('greeting')
document.body.appendChild(div)

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Creating and appending elements
it('should create element with text and class', () => {
  const div = document.createElement('div')
  div.textContent = 'Hello'
  div.classList.add('greeting')
  document.body.appendChild(div)
  
  const element = document.querySelector('.greeting')
  expect(element).not.toBeNull()
  expect(element.textContent).toBe('Hello')
  expect(element.classList.contains('greeting')).toBe(true)
})

Pattern 15: Timer Testing

Documentation:

console.log('First')
setTimeout(() => console.log('Second'), 0)
console.log('Third')
// Output: First, Third, Second

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: setTimeout execution order
it('should execute setTimeout callback after synchronous code', async () => {
  const output = []
  
  output.push('First')
  setTimeout(() => output.push('Second'), 0)
  output.push('Third')
  
  // Wait for setTimeout to execute
  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10))
  
  expect(output).toEqual(['First', 'Third', 'Second'])
})

Pattern 16: Strict Mode Behavior

Documentation:

// In strict mode, this throws
"use strict"
x = 10  // ReferenceError: x is not defined

Test:

// From lines XX-YY: Strict mode variable declaration
it('should throw ReferenceError in strict mode for undeclared variables', () => {
  // Vitest runs in strict mode by default
  expect(() => {
    // Using eval to test strict mode behavior
    "use strict"
    eval('undeclaredVar = 10')
  }).toThrow()
})

Complete Test File Template

import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'

describe('[Concept Name]', () => {
  // ============================================================
  // [FIRST SECTION NAME FROM DOCUMENTATION]
  // From [concept].mdx lines XX-YY
  // ============================================================
  
  describe('[First Section]', () => {
    // From lines XX-YY: [Brief description of example]
    it('should [expected behavior]', () => {
      // Code from documentation
      
      expect(result).toBe(expected)
    })
    
    // From lines XX-YY: [Brief description of next example]
    it('should [another expected behavior]', () => {
      // Code from documentation
      
      expect(result).toEqual(expected)
    })
  })
  
  // ============================================================
  // [SECOND SECTION NAME FROM DOCUMENTATION]
  // From [concept].mdx lines XX-YY
  // ============================================================
  
  describe('[Second Section]', () => {
    // From lines XX-YY: [Description]
    it('should [behavior]', () => {
      // Test
    })
  })
  
  // ============================================================
  // EDGE CASES AND COMMON MISTAKES
  // From [concept].mdx lines XX-YY
  // ============================================================
  
  describe('Edge Cases', () => {
    // From lines XX-YY: [Edge case description]
    it('should handle [edge case]', () => {
      // Test
    })
  })
  
  describe('Common Mistakes', () => {
    // From lines XX-YY: Wrong way example
    it('should demonstrate the incorrect behavior', () => {
      // Test showing why the "wrong" way fails
    })
    
    // From lines XX-YY: Correct way example
    it('should demonstrate the correct behavior', () => {
      // Test showing the right approach
    })
  })
})

Complete DOM Test File Template

/**
 * @vitest-environment jsdom
 */
import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'

// ============================================================
// DOM EXAMPLES FROM [CONCEPT NAME]
// From [concept].mdx lines XX-YY
// ============================================================

describe('[Concept Name] - DOM', () => {
  // Shared setup
  let container
  
  beforeEach(() => {
    // Create a fresh container for each test
    container = document.createElement('div')
    container.id = 'test-container'
    document.body.appendChild(container)
  })
  
  afterEach(() => {
    // Clean up after each test
    document.body.innerHTML = ''
    vi.restoreAllMocks()
  })
  
  // ============================================================
  // [SECTION NAME]
  // From lines XX-YY
  // ============================================================
  
  describe('[Section Name]', () => {
    // From lines XX-YY: [Example description]
    it('should [expected DOM behavior]', () => {
      // Setup
      const element = document.createElement('div')
      container.appendChild(element)
      
      // Action
      element.textContent = 'Hello'
      
      // Assert
      expect(element.textContent).toBe('Hello')
    })
  })
  
  // ============================================================
  // EVENT HANDLING
  // From lines XX-YY
  // ============================================================
  
  describe('Event Handling', () => {
    // From lines XX-YY: Click event example
    it('should handle click events', () => {
      const button = document.createElement('button')
      container.appendChild(button)
      
      let clicked = false
      button.addEventListener('click', () => {
        clicked = true
      })
      
      button.click()
      
      expect(clicked).toBe(true)
    })
  })
})

Running Tests

# Run all tests
npm test

# Run tests for specific concept
npm test -- tests/fundamentals/primitive-types/

# Run tests for specific file
npm test -- tests/fundamentals/primitive-types/primitive-types.test.js

# Run DOM tests only
npm test -- tests/fundamentals/primitive-types/primitive-types.dom.test.js

# Run with watch mode
npm run test:watch

# Run with coverage
npm run test:coverage

# Run with verbose output
npm test -- --reporter=verbose

Quality Checklist

Completeness

• All testable code examples have corresponding tests
• Tests organized by documentation sections
• Source line references included in comments (From lines XX-YY)
• DOM tests in separate .dom.test.js file
• Edge cases and error examples tested

Correctness

• Tests verify the actual documented behavior
• Output comments in docs match test expectations
• Async tests properly use async/await
• Error tests use correct toThrow pattern
• Floating point comparisons use toBeCloseTo
• Object comparisons use toEqual (not toBe)

Convention

• Uses explicit imports from vitest
• Follows describe/it nesting pattern
• Test names start with "should"
• Proper file naming ({concept}.test.js)
• DOM tests have jsdom environment directive

Verification

• All tests pass: npm test -- tests/{category}/{concept}/
• No skipped tests without documented reason
• No false positives (tests that pass for wrong reasons)

Test Report Template

Use this template to document test coverage for a concept page.

# Test Coverage Report: [Concept Name]

**Concept Page:** `/docs/concepts/[slug].mdx`
**Test File:** `/tests/{category}/{concept}/{concept}.test.js`
**DOM Test File:** `/tests/{category}/{concept}/{concept}.dom.test.js` (if applicable)
**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Author:** [Name/Claude]

## Summary

| Metric | Count |
|--------|-------|
| Total Code Examples in Doc | XX |
| Testable Examples | XX |
| Tests Written | XX |
| DOM Tests Written | XX |
| Skipped (with reason) | XX |

## Tests by Section

| Section | Line Range | Examples | Tests | Status |
|---------|------------|----------|-------|--------|
| [Section 1] | XX-YY | X | X | ✅ |
| [Section 2] | XX-YY | X | X | ✅ |
| [Section 3] | XX-YY | X | X | ⚠️ (1 skipped) |

## Skipped Examples

| Line | Example Description | Reason |
|------|---------------------|--------|
| XX | ASCII diagram of call stack | Conceptual, not executable |
| YY | Browser fetch example | Requires network, mocked instead |

## Test Execution

```bash
npm test -- tests/{category}/{concept}/

Result: ✅ XX passing | ❌ X failing | ⏭️ X skipped

Notes

[Any special considerations, mock requirements, or issues encountered]

---

## Common Issues and Solutions

### Issue: Test passes but shouldn't

**Problem:** Test expectations don't match documentation output

**Solution:** Double-check the expected value matches the `console.log` comment exactly

```javascript
// Documentation says: console.log(result)  // [1, 2, 3]
// Make sure test uses:
expect(result).toEqual([1, 2, 3])  // NOT toBe for arrays

Issue: Async test times out

Problem: Async test never resolves

Solution: Ensure all promises are awaited and async function is marked

// Bad
it('should fetch data', () => {
  const data = fetchData()  // Missing await!
  expect(data).toBeDefined()
})

// Good
it('should fetch data', async () => {
  const data = await fetchData()
  expect(data).toBeDefined()
})

Issue: DOM test fails with "document is not defined"

Problem: Missing jsdom environment

Solution: Add environment directive at top of file

/**
 * @vitest-environment jsdom
 */

Issue: Test isolation problems

Problem: Tests affect each other

Solution: Use beforeEach/afterEach for cleanup

afterEach(() => {
  document.body.innerHTML = ''
  vi.restoreAllMocks()
})

Summary

When writing tests for a concept page:

1. Extract all code examples from the documentation
2. Categorize as testable, DOM, error, or conceptual
3. Create test file in correct location with proper naming
4. Convert each example to test using appropriate pattern
5. Reference source lines in comments for traceability
6. Run tests to verify all pass
7. Document coverage using the report template

Remember: Tests serve two purposes:

1. Verify documentation is accurate
2. Catch regressions if code examples are updated

Every testable code example in the documentation should have a corresponding test. If an example can't be tested, document why.

Converted and distributed by TomeVault | Claim this content