During the development process, it is common to have test files residing within the project structure. When creating production bundles, it is often desirable to exclude these files to reduce the overall bundle size and prevent unnecessary code from being deployed. This ensures that only the necessary application code is included in the final output. For example, a directory named ‘tests’ containing files with extensions like ‘.test.js’ or ‘.spec.ts’ can be specifically excluded during the build process.
Excluding test files from the production build offers several advantages. Primarily, it decreases the size of the deployed application, leading to faster load times for end-users. It also avoids exposing testing infrastructure or potentially sensitive test data in the production environment. Historically, developers manually removed test files before deployment, which was error-prone and time-consuming. Modern build tools automate this process, improving efficiency and reliability.
