afonsoft/angular-testing

Angular Testing

Test Angular v21+ applications with Vitest (recommended) or Jasmine, focusing on signal-based components and modern patterns.

Vitest Setup (Angular v20+)

Angular v20+ has native Vitest support through the @angular/build package.

Installation

npm install -D vitest jsdom

Configuration

// angular.json - update test architect
{
  "projects": {
    "your-app": {
      "architect": {
        "test": {
          "builder": "@angular/build:unit-test",
          "options": {
            "tsConfig": "tsconfig.spec.json",
            "buildTarget": "your-app:build"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

// tsconfig.spec.json
{
  "extends": "./tsconfig.json",
  "compilerOptions": {
    "types": ["vitest/globals"]
  },
  "include": ["src/**/*.spec.ts"]
}

Running Tests

# Run tests
ng test

# Watch mode
ng test --watch

# Coverage
ng test --code-coverage

Vitest Test Example

import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
import { Counter } from './counter.component';

describe('Counter', () => {
  let component: Counter;
  let fixture: ComponentFixture<Counter>;
  
  beforeEach(async () => {
    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports: [Counter],
    }).compileComponents();
    
    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Counter);
    component = fixture.componentInstance;
    fixture.detectChanges();
  });
  
  it('should create', () => {
    expect(component).toBeTruthy();
  });
  
  it('should increment count', () => {
    expect(component.count()).toBe(0);
    
    component.increment();
    
    expect(component.count()).toBe(1);
  });
});

Vitest Mocking

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

describe('UserCmpt', () => {
  const mockUserService = {
    getUser: vi.fn(),
    updateUser: vi.fn(),
    user: signal<User | null>(null),
  };
  
  beforeEach(async () => {
    vi.clearAllMocks();
    mockUserService.getUser.mockReturnValue(of({ id: '1', name: 'Test' }));
    
    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports: [UserCmpt],
      providers: [
        { provide: User, useValue: mockUserService },
      ],
    }).compileComponents();
  });
  
  it('should call getUser on init', () => {
    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(UserCmpt);
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    expect(mockUserService.getUser).toHaveBeenCalledWith('1');
  });
});

Vitest with HTTP Testing

import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
import { HttpTestingController, provideHttpClientTesting } from '@angular/common/http/testing';
import { provideHttpClient } from '@angular/common/http';

describe('User', () => {
  let service: User;
  let httpMock: HttpTestingController;
  
  beforeEach(() => {
    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      providers: [
        provideHttpClient(),
        provideHttpClientTesting(),
      ],
    });
    
    service = TestBed.inject(User);
    httpMock = TestBed.inject(HttpTestingController);
  });
  
  afterEach(() => {
    httpMock.verify();
  });
  
  it('should fetch user', () => {
    const mockUser = { id: '1', name: 'Test User' };
    
    service.getUser('1').subscribe(user => {
      expect(user).toEqual(mockUser);
    });
    
    const req = httpMock.expectOne('/api/users/1');
    expect(req.request.method).toBe('GET');
    req.flush(mockUser);
  });
});

---

Basic Component Test

import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
import { Counter } from './counter.component';

describe('Counter', () => {
  let component: Counter;
  let fixture: ComponentFixture<Counter>;
  
  beforeEach(async () => {
    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports: [Counter], // Standalone component
    }).compileComponents();
    
    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Counter);
    component = fixture.componentInstance;
    fixture.detectChanges();
  });
  
  it('should create', () => {
    expect(component).toBeTruthy();
  });
  
  it('should increment count', () => {
    expect(component.count()).toBe(0);
    
    component.increment();
    
    expect(component.count()).toBe(1);
  });
  
  it('should display count in template', () => {
    component.count.set(5);
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    const element = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.count');
    expect(element.textContent).toContain('5');
  });
});

Testing Signals

Direct Signal Testing

import { signal, computed } from '@angular/core';

describe('Signal logic', () => {
  it('should update computed when signal changes', () => {
    const count = signal(0);
    const doubled = computed(() => count() * 2);
    
    expect(doubled()).toBe(0);
    
    count.set(5);
    expect(doubled()).toBe(10);
    
    count.update(c => c + 1);
    expect(doubled()).toBe(12);
  });
});

Testing Component Signals

@Component({
  selector: 'app-todo-list',
  template: `
    <ul>
      @for (todo of filteredTodos(); track todo.id) {
        <li>{{ todo.text }}</li>
      }
    </ul>
    <p>{{ remaining() }} remaining</p>
  `,
})
export class TodoList {
  todos = signal<Todo[]>([]);
  filter = signal<'all' | 'active' | 'done'>('all');
  
  filteredTodos = computed(() => {
    const todos = this.todos();
    switch (this.filter()) {
      case 'active': return todos.filter(t => !t.done);
      case 'done': return todos.filter(t => t.done);
      default: return todos;
    }
  });
  
  remaining = computed(() => this.todos().filter(t => !t.done).length);
}

describe('TodoList', () => {
  let component: TodoList;
  let fixture: ComponentFixture<TodoList>;
  
  beforeEach(async () => {
    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports: [TodoList],
    }).compileComponents();
    
    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TodoList);
    component = fixture.componentInstance;
  });
  
  it('should filter active todos', () => {
    component.todos.set([
      { id: '1', text: 'Task 1', done: false },
      { id: '2', text: 'Task 2', done: true },
      { id: '3', text: 'Task 3', done: false },
    ]);
    
    component.filter.set('active');
    
    expect(component.filteredTodos().length).toBe(2);
    expect(component.remaining()).toBe(2);
  });
  
  it('should render filtered todos', () => {
    component.todos.set([
      { id: '1', text: 'Active Task', done: false },
      { id: '2', text: 'Done Task', done: true },
    ]);
    component.filter.set('active');
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    const items = fixture.nativeElement.querySelectorAll('li');
    expect(items.length).toBe(1);
    expect(items[0].textContent).toContain('Active Task');
  });
});

Testing OnPush Components

OnPush components require explicit change detection:

@Component({
  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
  template: `<span>{{ data().name }}</span>`,
})
export class OnPush {
  data = input.required<{ name: string }>();
}

describe('OnPush', () => {
  it('should update when input signal changes', () => {
    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(OnPush);
    
    // Set input using setInput (for signal inputs)
    fixture.componentRef.setInput('data', { name: 'Initial' });
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('Initial');
    
    // Update input
    fixture.componentRef.setInput('data', { name: 'Updated' });
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('Updated');
  });
});

Testing Services

Basic Service Test

import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';

@Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
export class CounterSvc {
  private _count = signal(0);
  readonly count = this._count.asReadonly();
  
  increment() {
    this._count.update(c => c + 1);
  }
  
  reset() {
    this._count.set(0);
  }
}

describe('CounterSvc', () => {
  let service: CounterSvc;
  
  beforeEach(() => {
    TestBed.configureTestingModule({});
    service = TestBed.inject(CounterSvc);
  });
  
  it('should increment count', () => {
    expect(service.count()).toBe(0);
    
    service.increment();
    expect(service.count()).toBe(1);
    
    service.increment();
    expect(service.count()).toBe(2);
  });
  
  it('should reset count', () => {
    service.increment();
    service.increment();
    
    service.reset();
    
    expect(service.count()).toBe(0);
  });
});

Service with Dependencies

@Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
export class User {
  private http = inject(HttpClient);
  
  getUser(id: string) {
    return this.http.get<User>(`/api/users/${id}`);
  }
}

describe('User', () => {
  let service: User;
  let httpMock: HttpTestingController;
  
  beforeEach(() => {
    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      providers: [
        provideHttpClient(),
        provideHttpClientTesting(),
      ],
    });
    
    service = TestBed.inject(User);
    httpMock = TestBed.inject(HttpTestingController);
  });
  
  afterEach(() => {
    httpMock.verify(); // Verify no outstanding requests
  });
  
  it('should fetch user by id', () => {
    const mockUser: User = { id: '1', name: 'Test User' };
    
    service.getUser('1').subscribe(user => {
      expect(user).toEqual(mockUser);
    });
    
    const req = httpMock.expectOne('/api/users/1');
    expect(req.request.method).toBe('GET');
    req.flush(mockUser);
  });
});

Mocking Dependencies

Using Jasmine Spies

describe('ComponentWithDependency', () => {
  let userServiceSpy: jasmine.SpyObj<User>;
  
  beforeEach(async () => {
    userServiceSpy = jasmine.createSpyObj('User', ['getUser', 'updateUser']);
    userServiceSpy.getUser.and.returnValue(of({ id: '1', name: 'Test' }));
    
    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports: [UserProfile],
      providers: [
        { provide: User, useValue: userServiceSpy },
      ],
    }).compileComponents();
  });
  
  it('should call getUser on init', () => {
    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(UserProfile);
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    expect(userServiceSpy.getUser).toHaveBeenCalledWith('1');
  });
});

Mock Signal-Based Service

// Create mock with signal
const mockAuth = {
  user: signal<User | null>(null),
  isAuthenticated: computed(() => mockAuth.user() !== null),
  login: jasmine.createSpy('login'),
  logout: jasmine.createSpy('logout'),
};

beforeEach(async () => {
  await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
    imports: [Protected],
    providers: [
      { provide: Auth, useValue: mockAuth },
    ],
  }).compileComponents();
});

it('should show content when authenticated', () => {
  mockAuth.user.set({ id: '1', name: 'Test User' });
  
  const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Protected);
  fixture.detectChanges();
  
  expect(fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.protected-content')).toBeTruthy();
});

Testing Inputs and Outputs

@Component({
  selector: 'app-item',
  template: `
    <div (click)="select()">{{ item().name }}</div>
  `,
})
export class Item {
  item = input.required<Item>();
  selected = output<Item>();
  
  select() {
    this.selected.emit(this.item());
  }
}

describe('Item', () => {
  it('should emit selected event on click', () => {
    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Item);
    const item: Item = { id: '1', name: 'Test Item' };
    
    fixture.componentRef.setInput('item', item);
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    // Subscribe to output
    let emittedItem: Item | undefined;
    fixture.componentInstance.selected.subscribe(i => emittedItem = i);
    
    // Trigger click
    fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('div').click();
    
    expect(emittedItem).toEqual(item);
  });
});

Testing Async Operations

Using fakeAsync

import { fakeAsync, tick, flush } from '@angular/core/testing';

it('should debounce search', fakeAsync(() => {
  const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Search);
  fixture.detectChanges();
  
  // Type in search
  fixture.componentInstance.query.set('test');
  
  // Advance time for debounce
  tick(300);
  fixture.detectChanges();
  
  expect(fixture.componentInstance.results().length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
  
  // Flush any remaining timers
  flush();
}));

Using waitForAsync

import { waitForAsync } from '@angular/core/testing';

it('should load data', waitForAsync(() => {
  const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Data);
  fixture.detectChanges();
  
  fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
    fixture.detectChanges();
    expect(fixture.componentInstance.data()).toBeDefined();
  });
}));

Testing HTTP Resources

@Component({
  template: `
    @if (userResource.isLoading()) {
      <p>Loading...</p>
    } @else if (userResource.hasValue()) {
      <p>{{ userResource.value().name }}</p>
    }
  `,
})
export class UserCmpt {
  userId = signal('1');
  userResource = httpResource<UserData>(() => `/api/users/${this.userId()}`);
}

describe('UserCmpt', () => {
  let httpMock: HttpTestingController;
  
  beforeEach(async () => {
    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports: [UserCmpt],
      providers: [
        provideHttpClient(),
        provideHttpClientTesting(),
      ],
    }).compileComponents();
    
    httpMock = TestBed.inject(HttpTestingController);
  });
  
  it('should display user name after loading', () => {
    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(UserCmpt);
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    // Initially loading
    expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('Loading');
    
    // Respond to request
    const req = httpMock.expectOne('/api/users/1');
    req.flush({ id: '1', name: 'John Doe' });
    fixture.detectChanges();
    
    expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('John Doe');
  });
});

Vitest vs Jasmine Comparison

| Feature | Vitest | Jasmine/Karma | |---------|--------|---------------| | Speed | Faster (native ESM) | Slower | | Watch mode | Instant feedback | Slower rebuilds | | Mocking | vi.fn(), vi.mock() | jasmine.createSpy() | | Assertions | expect() (Chai-style) | expect() (Jasmine) | | UI | Built-in UI mode | Karma browser | | Config | angular.json | karma.conf.js |

Migration from Jasmine to Vitest

// Jasmine
const spy = jasmine.createSpy('callback');
spy.and.returnValue('value');
expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('arg');

// Vitest
const spy = vi.fn();
spy.mockReturnValue('value');
expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('arg');

// Jasmine
spyOn(service, 'method').and.returnValue(of(data));

// Vitest
vi.spyOn(service, 'method').mockReturnValue(of(data));

For advanced testing patterns, see references/testing-patterns.md.