Why do I get the error "Received value must be an HTMLElement or an SVGElement" when using react-native?

Question

I'm new to unit testing and I'm trying to render a component to learn more about the library.

I'm trying to follow this guide.

Component

<TouchableOpacity
    style={style}
    onPress={onPress}
    accessibilityRole="button"
>
    <AppText style={textStyle}>{title.toUpperCase()}</AppText>
</TouchableOpacity>

Test

it("Has the correct title in the button", () => {
    const { getByText } = render(<AppButton title="Hello" />);
  
    expect(getByText("HELLO")).toBeInTheDocument();
});

I'm simply trying to see that the component renders correctly but I get the error

received value must be an HTMLElement or an SVGElement.
    Received has type:  object
    Received has value: {"_fiber": {"_debugHookTypes": null, "_debugID": 40, "_debugIsCurrentlyTiming": false, "_debugNeedsRemount": false, "_debugOwner": [FiberNode], "_debugSource": null, "actualDuration": 0, "actualStartTime": -1, "alternate": null, "child": [FiberNode], "childExpirationTime": 0, "dependencies": null, "effectTag": 1, "elementType": [Function Component], "expirationTime": 0, "firstEffect": null, "index": 0, "key": null, "lastEffect": null, "memoizedProps": [Object], "memoizedState": null, "mode": 0, "nextEffect": null, "pendingProps": [Object], "ref": null, "return": [FiberNode], "selfBaseDuration": 0, "sibling": null, "stateNode": [Component], "tag": 1, "treeBaseDuration": 0, "type": [Function Component], "updateQueue": [Object]}}

Any advice on what I'm doing wrong?

Here is the working solution, it works if I access by testID. it("Has the correct title in the button", () => { const { getByTestId } = render(); const eins = getByTestId("text"); expect(eins.children[0]).toEqual("HELLO"); }); Although it'd have been good to understand why I couldn't get the value with `getByText`, at least it's working. :) — theabrar, Aug 18 '22 at 09:39

score 23 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 08 '21 at 10:13

23

You can use waitFor

Sample:

import { waitFor } from "@testing-library/react-native";


waitFor(() => expect(getByText("Your-text")).toBeInTheDocument());

// or

waitFor(() => expect(getByTestId("Your-Test-Id")).toBeInTheDocument());

answered Nov 08 '21 at 10:13

sia

513
4
14

waitFor works!! – Lorenzo Covarrubias Feb 03 '23 at 19:01
I am using MDX for React. `waitFor` resolved the issue. Thanks – ambar Mar 29 '23 at 02:54
Note that `waitFor()` is async, so your tests should ```await waitFor(() => expect(getByText("Your-text")).toBeInTheDocument());``` – jonny133 May 30 '23 at 11:39
waitFor works by await waitFor throws error – Mayank Kumar Chaudhari Aug 21 '23 at 17:02

score 15 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 08 '21 at 23:21

The issue is that you're trying to use the toBeInTheDocument helper function from @testing-library/jest-dom with React Native code. @testing-library/jest-dom expects DOM elements to be passed to its functions, and is meant to be used with @testing-library/react instead - it won't work with the native elements from React Native.

When using @testing-library/react-native you can assert the presence of an element like so.

it("has the correct title in the button", () => {
    const { getByText } = render(<AppButton title="Hello" />);
    expect(getByText("HELLO")).toBeTruthy();
});

Thanks! I was doing the same mistake on not using testing lib methods — Doug, Jul 18 '22 at 16:46

Why do I get the error "Received value must be an HTMLElement or an SVGElement" when using react-native?

2 Answers2