How can I tell Jest through the command line not to run a certain test file, but run all others?

Question

I have three test files, acceptance.test.js routes.test.js snapshots.test.js

I want to create an npm script in my package.json that would ignore one of these test files when it's used. I'm trying to use the Jest option --testPathPattern to do this. For example:

  "scripts": {
    "no-snapshots-test": "jest --coverage --testPathPattern=^(?!snapshots).*$"
  }

This particular example gives an error of .*$ was unexpected at this time in the terminal, though. I've tried removing .*$ off the end, but that causes my snapshot tests to still run.

What's the correct regex to allow me to specify the file (or files) that I want to ignore? I need to do this in the CLI, so I can't use the Jest config option testPathIgnorePattern.

Answer 1

The beginning ^ and the end $ are not supported. Omit them and use the very same Regex without the negative lookahead:

"scripts": {
    "no-snapshots-test": "jest --coverage --testPathPattern=snapshots.*"
}

Just a guess: you might need to use the proper JavaScript Regex syntax: /snapshots.*/g .

Answer 2

Instead of trying to use a negative lookahead in the testPathPattern you can use the the testPathIgnorePattern instead. It is not documented in the jest CLI documentation but it still works.

"scripts": {
    "no-snapshots-test": "jest --coverage --testPathIgnorePattern=snapshots"
  }

You might need to change the ignore pattern though if it matches too many of your tests.