How to Fix Jest Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in React/TypeScript?

Summary: Struggling with the Jest SyntaxError "Cannot use import statement outside a module" in your React/TypeScript project? Learn how to fix it with these steps.
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How to Fix Jest Error: Cannot use import statement outside a module in React/TypeScript?

When working in a React/TypeScript project, running your Jest tests might occasionally throw an error like:

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This error usually occurs because Jest can't handle the ECMAScript module syntax (import and export) directly. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to resolve this issue.

Step-by-Step Fix

Update Jest Configuration

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Install Required Packages

If you haven't already, make sure to install ts-jest, which allows Jest to transpile TypeScript:

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Configure ts-jest

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Babel Option

If you’re using Babel alongside TypeScript, make sure Jest is configured to use Babel for transforming your files. First, install the necessary Babel presets:

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Ensure your Jest configuration references Babel:

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CommonJS Compatibility

Sometimes, importing CommonJS modules might resolve the issue. Change your import statements to require:

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However, this approach may not be suitable for a full TypeScript setup.

Conclusion

Fixing the "Cannot use import statement outside a module" error in Jest tests for a React/TypeScript project involves setting up Jest to understand TypeScript or configuring Babel properly. Follow these steps to ensure smooth testing and continued productivity in your project.

By tweaking the configuration files and ensuring that Jest knows how to handle TypeScript, we can eliminate this error and streamline our testing process.

Happy coding and testing!