npm package: @inquirer/testing
Description: Inquirer testing utilities
Author: Simon Boudrias
Latest version: 3.3.4

# `@inquirer/testing`

The `@inquirer/testing` package is Inquirer's answer to testing prompts [built with `@inquirer/core`](https://github.com/SBoudrias/Inquirer.js/tree/main/packages/core).

# Installation

<table>
<tr>
  <th>npm</th>
  <th>yarn</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>

```sh
npm install @inquirer/testing --save-dev
```

</td>
<td>

```sh
yarn add @inquirer/testing --dev
```

</td>
</tr>
</table>

# Usage

This package provides two ways to test Inquirer prompts:

1. **Unit testing** with `render()` - Test individual prompts in isolation
2. **E2E testing** with `screen` - Test full CLI applications that use Inquirer

## Unit Testing with `render()`

The `render()` function creates and instruments a command line interface for testing a single prompt.

```ts
import { render } from '@inquirer/testing';
import input from '@inquirer/input';

describe('input prompt', () => {
  it('handle simple use case', async () => {
    const { answer, events, getScreen } = await render(input, {
      message: 'What is your name',
    });

    expect(getScreen()).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"? What is your name"`);

    events.type('J');
    expect(getScreen()).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"? What is your name J"`);

    events.type('ohn');
    events.keypress('enter');

    await expect(answer).resolves.toEqual('John');
    expect(getScreen()).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"? What is your name John"`);
  });
});
```

### `render()` API

`render` takes 2 arguments:

1. The Inquirer prompt to test (the return value of `createPrompt()`)
2. The prompt configuration (the first prompt argument)

`render` returns a promise that resolves once the prompt is rendered. This promise returns:

- `answer` (`Promise`) - Resolves when an answer is provided and valid
- `getScreen` (`({ raw?: boolean }) => string`) - Returns the current screen content. By default strips ANSI codes
- `nextRender` (`() => Promise<void>`) - Wait for the next screen update. Use after triggering async actions (e.g. pressing enter with validation). Coalesces rapid back-to-back renders so a single `await nextRender()` captures the final settled state
- `events` - Utilities to interact with the prompt:
  - `keypress(key: string | KeyObject)` - Trigger a keypress event
  - `type(text: string)` - Type text into the prompt
- `getFullOutput` (`() => Promise<string>`) - Returns the full output interpreted through a virtual terminal, resolving ANSI escape sequences into the actual screen state

### Async actions and `nextRender()`

When a keypress triggers an asynchronous action (such as input validation), the screen won't update synchronously. Use `nextRender()` to wait for the prompt to settle before reading the screen:

```ts
import { render } from '@inquirer/testing';
import input from '@inquirer/input';

it('shows a validation error', async () => {
  const { answer, events, getScreen, nextRender } = await render(input, {
    message: 'Enter a number',
    validate: (value) => /^\d+$/.test(value) || 'Must be a number',
  });

  events.type('abc');
  events.keypress('enter');

  await nextRender(); // wait for validation to complete and the error to render
  expect(getScreen()).toContain('Must be a number');

  events.keypress('backspace');
  events.keypress('backspace');
  events.keypress('backspace');
  events.type('42');
  events.keypress('enter');

  await expect(answer).resolves.toEqual('42');
});
```

### Unit Testing Example

You can refer to the [`@inquirer/input` test suite](https://github.com/SBoudrias/Inquirer.js/blob/main/packages/input/input.test.ts) for a comprehensive unit testing example using `render()`.

## E2E Testing with `screen`

For testing full CLI applications that use Inquirer prompts internally, use the framework-specific entry points:

### Vitest

```ts
import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
import { screen } from '@inquirer/testing/vitest';

// Import your CLI AFTER @inquirer/testing/vitest
import { runMyCli } from './my-cli.js';

describe('my CLI', () => {
  it('asks for name and confirms', async () => {
    const result = runMyCli();

    // First prompt is immediately available
    expect(screen.getScreen()).toContain('What is your name?');
    screen.type('John');
    screen.keypress('enter');

    // Wait for next prompt
    await screen.next();
    expect(screen.getScreen()).toContain('Confirm?');
    screen.keypress('enter');

    await result;
  });
});
```

### Jest

```ts
import { screen } from '@inquirer/testing/jest';
import { runMyCli } from './my-cli.js';

describe('my CLI', () => {
  it('asks for name and confirms', async () => {
    const result = runMyCli();

    // First prompt is immediately available
    expect(screen.getScreen()).toContain('What is your name?');
    screen.type('John');
    screen.keypress('enter');

    // Wait for next prompt
    await screen.next();
    expect(screen.getScreen()).toContain('Confirm?');
    screen.keypress('enter');

    await result;
  });
});
```

### `screen` API

The `screen` object provides:

- `next()` - Wait for the next screen update (prompt transitions, validation errors, async updates). The initial prompt render is available immediately via `getScreen()` — no `next()` needed
- `getScreen({ raw?: boolean })` - Get the current prompt screen content. By default strips ANSI codes
- `getFullOutput({ raw?: boolean })` - Get all accumulated output interpreted through a virtual terminal (returns a `Promise`). By default resolves ANSI escape sequences into actual screen state
- `type(text)` - Type text (writes to stream AND emits keypresses)
- `keypress(key)` - Send a keypress event
- `clear()` - Reset screen state (called automatically before each test)

### Mocking Third-Party Prompts

All `@inquirer/*` prompts are mocked automatically. To mock a third-party or custom prompt package, use `wrapPrompt` in your own mock call:

#### Vitest

```ts
import { screen, wrapPrompt } from '@inquirer/testing/vitest';

vi.mock('@my-company/custom-prompt', async (importOriginal) => {
  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import('@my-company/custom-prompt')>();
  return { ...actual, default: wrapPrompt(actual.default) };
});
```

#### Jest

In Jest, `jest.mock()` factories are hoisted before imports, so `wrapPrompt` must be accessed via `jest.requireActual()` inside the factory:

```ts
import { screen } from '@inquirer/testing/jest';

jest.mock('@my-company/custom-prompt', () => {
  const { wrapPrompt } = jest.requireActual('@inquirer/testing/jest');
  const actual = jest.requireActual('@my-company/custom-prompt');
  return { ...actual, default: wrapPrompt(actual.default) };
});
```

### Important Notes

1. **Import order matters**: Import `@inquirer/testing/vitest` or `@inquirer/testing/jest` BEFORE importing modules that use Inquirer prompts
2. **Editor prompt**: The external editor is mocked — `screen.type()` buffers text, and `screen.keypress('enter')` submits it (same pattern as other prompts). Works with both `waitForUserInput: true` and `false`
3. **Sequential prompts**: Multiple prompts are supported, but they must run sequentially (not concurrently)

### E2E Testing Example

You can refer to the [`@inquirer/demo` test suite](https://github.com/SBoudrias/Inquirer.js/blob/main/packages/demo/demo.test.ts) for a comprehensive E2E testing example using `screen`.

# License

Copyright (c) 2023 Simon Boudrias (twitter: [@vaxilart](https://twitter.com/Vaxilart))<br/>
Licensed under the MIT license.