Test IDs are an a11y smell

This article challenges the common practice of using data-testid attributes for test selectors, arguing they are an accessibility (a11y) smell. The author, with over a decade of experience avoiding test IDs, explains that role-based selectors from Testing Library or Playwright better align tests with user interactions, improving confidence and maintainability. The piece emphasizes that test IDs are invisible to users and violate testing principles, while accessibility laws like the European Accessibility Act and ADA require focus on user-facing elements. It advocates for integration tests over implementation details, making a case for more accessible and robust testing practices in React and web development.