## Summary Document that `vue-i18n` should not be mocked in tests — mount with a real `createI18n` plugin instance instead. ## Changes - **What**: Expanded `docs/testing/vitest-patterns.md` "Don't Mock `vue-i18n`" section with a concrete code example (covering both component and composable tests), guidance for asserting on translation keys with empty messages, and a real-example link to `src/components/searchbox/v2/__test__/testUtils.ts`. Added a callout at the top of `docs/testing/unit-testing.md` "Mocking Composables with Reactive State" cross-linking the new section, since that section applies to *owned* composables. ## Review Focus - The previous `vitest-patterns.md` paragraph pointed at a non-existent `SearchBox.test.ts`; the new link points to the actual shared `testI18n` helper. - The "Mocking Composables with Reactive State" pattern should not be applied to third-party composables like `useI18n` — the callout makes that explicit. Surfaced during review of #11737, where the test file mocked `vue-i18n` and then accumulated structural workarounds (hoisted aliases, helper functions, type casts) to interact with the mocked `t`. A real `createI18n` instance avoids the entire ceremony. ┆Issue is synchronized with this [Notion page](https://app.notion.com/p/PR-11776-docs-prefer-real-createI18n-over-mocking-vue-i18n-in-tests-3526d73d365081d4bc39fbf3c2502e49) by [Unito](https://www.unito.io) Co-authored-by: Amp <amp@ampcode.com>
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Vitest Patterns
Setup
Use createTestingPinia from @pinia/testing, not createPinia:
import { createTestingPinia } from '@pinia/testing'
import { setActivePinia } from 'pinia'
import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
describe('MyStore', () => {
beforeEach(() => {
setActivePinia(createTestingPinia({ stubActions: false }))
vi.useFakeTimers()
vi.resetAllMocks()
})
afterEach(() => {
vi.useRealTimers()
})
})
Why stubActions: false? By default, testing pinia stubs all actions. Set to false when testing actual store behavior.
Don't Mock vue-i18n — Use a Real Plugin
Mount with a real createI18n instance instead of mocking vue-i18n. The plugin is cheap, owned by a third party (don't mock what you don't own), and a real instance exercises the same translation key resolution and pluralization logic that production uses.
This applies to all tests that touch a component or composable calling useI18n() — not just component tests.
import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
const i18n = createI18n({
legacy: false,
locale: 'en',
messages: { en: {} } // empty — assertions key off the translation key, not the rendered string
})
// Component tests: pass via global plugins
mount(MyComponent, { global: { plugins: [i18n] } })
// Composable tests: provide via a host component (see useMediaAssetActions.test.ts pattern)
const app = createApp(HostComponent)
app.use(i18n)
Real example: src/components/searchbox/v2/__test__/testUtils.ts exports a shared testI18n instance.
Asserting on translation keys
With empty messages, t('foo.bar') returns 'foo.bar' (the key). Assert against the key directly — no need to mock t:
expect(toastSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
expect.objectContaining({ detail: 'mediaAsset.selection.exportStarted' })
)
For pluralization / interpolation arguments, spy on the consumer (e.g. the toast add fn) and inspect the captured payload, rather than spying on t itself.
Mock Patterns
Reset all mocks at once
beforeEach(() => {
vi.resetAllMocks() // Not individual mock.mockReset() calls
})
Module mocks with vi.mock()
vi.mock('@/scripts/api', () => ({
api: {
addEventListener: vi.fn(),
fetchData: vi.fn()
}
}))
vi.mock('@/services/myService', () => ({
myService: {
doThing: vi.fn()
}
}))
Configure mocks in tests
import { api } from '@/scripts/api'
import { myService } from '@/services/myService'
it('handles success', () => {
vi.mocked(myService.doThing).mockResolvedValue({ data: 'test' })
// ... test code
})
Testing Event Listeners
When a store registers event listeners at module load time:
function getEventHandler() {
const call = vi
.mocked(api.addEventListener)
.mock.calls.find(([event]) => event === 'my_event')
return call?.[1] as (e: CustomEvent<MyEventType>) => void
}
function dispatch(data: MyEventType) {
const handler = getEventHandler()
handler(new CustomEvent('my_event', { detail: data }))
}
it('handles events', () => {
const store = useMyStore()
dispatch({ field: 'value' })
expect(store.items).toHaveLength(1)
})
Testing with Fake Timers
For stores with intervals, timeouts, or polling:
beforeEach(() => {
vi.useFakeTimers()
})
afterEach(() => {
vi.useRealTimers()
})
it('polls after delay', async () => {
const store = useMyStore()
store.startPolling()
await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30000)
expect(mockService.fetch).toHaveBeenCalled()
})
Assertion Style
Prefer .toHaveLength() over .length.toBe():
// Good
expect(store.items).toHaveLength(1)
// Avoid
expect(store.items.length).toBe(1)
Use .toMatchObject() for partial matching:
expect(store.completedItems[0]).toMatchObject({
id: 'task-123',
status: 'done'
})