esbuild-jest

0.5.0 verified Mon Apr 27 auth: no javascript

Jest transformer that uses esbuild for fast compilation of TypeScript, JavaScript, TSX, and JSX files. Current stable version is 0.5.0. Released as needed, with esbuild >=0.8.50 as peer dependency. Differentiators: significantly faster than ts-jest by leveraging esbuild's speed, but lacks type checking and some advanced TypeScript features. Ships TypeScript types.

Common errors

error Cannot find module 'esbuild-jest' from 'jest.config.js' ↓

cause esbuild-jest not installed or esbuild peer dependency missing.

fix

npm install --save-dev esbuild-jest esbuild

error TypeError: esbuildJest is not a function ↓

cause Using named import Options as a function.

fix

Use default import for transformer: import esbuildJest from 'esbuild-jest'

error Jest encountered an unexpected token (tsx file) ↓

cause Transform regex does not match .tsx files.

fix

Update regex to '^.+\\.(t|j)sx?$' in jest config

Warnings

gotcha esbuild-jest does not perform type checking, only transpilation. ↓

fix Run tsc --noEmit separately or use a type-checked alternative like ts-jest.

gotcha esbuild-jest is not maintained as actively as alternatives; consider @swc/jest or ts-jest for production. ↓

fix Switch to @swc/jest or ts-jest.

deprecated The package is no longer actively maintained. ↓

fix Migrate to @swc/jest or ts-jest.

Install

npm install esbuild-jest

yarn add esbuild-jest

pnpm add esbuild-jest

Imports

default export (transformer)
```
import esbuildJest from 'esbuild-jest'
```
Default export is the transformer function. Only named exports are Options types.

Options interface

wrong

import { Options } from 'esbuild-jest' (runtime error, type-only)

correct

import type { Options } from 'esbuild-jest'

Options is a TypeScript type, not a value. Use type import.

require with CreateTransformerOptions?
wrong
```
const { default } = require('esbuild-jest')
```
correct
```
const transformer = require('esbuild-jest')
```
CommonJS require returns the transformer directly, not under default.

Quickstart

Shows minimal Jest config using esbuild-jest transformer with sourcemap option and a basic test.

// jest.config.js
module.exports = {
  transform: {
    '^.+\\.(t|j)sx?$': ['esbuild-jest', { sourcemap: true }]
  }
};

// your.test.ts
import { sum } from './sum';
test('adds 1 + 2 to equal 3', () => {
  expect(sum(1, 2)).toBe(3);
});