---
package: "@testing-library/user-event"
version: "^14.5.0"
tier: core
decision: approved
date: 2026-05-14
deciders: [Danijel Martinek]
adr: null
filter-results:
  license: MIT
  types: native
  maintenance: active
  boundary-fit: pass
  shadow-check: pass
  eu-residency: n/a
  cve-scan: clean
  named-consumer: pass
verification-commands:
  - npm view @testing-library/user-event license
  - npm view @testing-library/user-event version
  - pnpm audit --audit-level=moderate
accepted-cves: []
---

## Filter: license

<!-- Result: MIT -->

`npm view @testing-library/user-event license` returns `MIT`. MIT is on the allowlist.

## Filter: types

<!-- Result: native -->

`@testing-library/user-event` ships its own TypeScript declaration files. No separate `@types/` package is needed.

## Filter: maintenance

<!-- Result: active -->

Actively maintained by the Testing Library organization. The 14.x line is the current major. Regular releases.

## Filter: boundary-fit

<!-- Result: pass -->

`@testing-library/user-event` is a dependency of `@repo/core-testing`, the workspace's shared testing infrastructure. It provides realistic user interaction simulation (`userEvent.click`, `userEvent.type`, etc.) that more accurately models browser behavior than `fireEvent`. This is the correct placement for shared test infrastructure.

## Filter: shadow-check

<!-- Result: pass -->

`@testing-library/user-event` is the sole user interaction simulation library in the workspace. No competing library is present.

## Filter: eu-residency

<!-- Result: n/a -->

`@testing-library/user-event` is a test utility library with no network communication. EU residency does not apply.

## Filter: cve-scan

<!-- Result: clean -->

`pnpm audit --audit-level=moderate` reports no advisories against `@testing-library/user-event` at the time of this trace.

## Filter: named-consumer

<!-- Result: pass -->

`@repo/core-testing` uses `@testing-library/user-event` to provide realistic interaction utilities for component tests. Feature packages with interactive UI components use these via `core-testing`. Named, non-hypothetical consumer exists today.

## Prompt: replaces

`@testing-library/user-event` replaces `@testing-library/dom`'s `fireEvent` for interaction tests. `userEvent` simulates the full browser event sequence (pointerdown → mousedown → focus → click → pointerup → mouseup) rather than dispatching a single synthetic event, producing more faithful integration tests.

## Prompt: migration-cost-out

Low. `@testing-library/user-event` is used in component tests alongside `@testing-library/react`. Removing it requires downgrading interaction tests to `fireEvent` calls — a mechanical change but a loss of test fidelity.

## Prompt: alternatives-considered

1. **`fireEvent` only** — Simpler but fires only one synthetic event per interaction; misses focus/blur and keyboard event sequences that real browsers emit.
2. **Playwright component testing** — Full browser testing is reserved for e2e (`pnpm test:e2e`); `userEvent` is the right tool for unit/integration component tests.
