The process of configuring a webpack build to omit test-related files from the final bundled output is a standard practice in software development. This ensures that the deployed application remains lean and does not include code solely intended for testing purposes, such as unit tests, integration tests, and related utilities. A common scenario involves excluding files ending with `.test.js` or residing within a dedicated `test` directory.
Excluding test files from the production bundle yields several benefits. Reduced bundle size leads to faster download times and improved application performance. It also minimizes potential security risks by preventing the exposure of test-specific code or configurations in a production environment. Historically, as JavaScript applications grew in complexity, the need to segregate test code from production code became increasingly apparent, leading to the adoption of build tools like webpack to automate this separation.
