# Suggest using `toBe()` for primitive literals (`prefer-to-be`) When asserting against primitive literals such as numbers and strings, the equality matchers all operate the same, but read slightly differently in code. This rule recommends using the `toBe` matcher in these situations, as it forms the most grammatically natural sentence. For `null`, `undefined`, and `NaN` this rule recommends using their specific `toBe` matchers, as they give better error messages as well. ## Rule details This rule triggers a warning if `toEqual()` or `toStrictEqual()` are used to assert a primitive literal value such as numbers, strings, and booleans. The following patterns are considered warnings: ```js expect(value).not.toEqual(5); expect(getMessage()).toStrictEqual('hello world'); expect(loadMessage()).resolves.toEqual('hello world'); ``` The following pattern is not warning: ```js expect(value).not.toBe(5); expect(getMessage()).toBe('hello world'); expect(loadMessage()).resolves.toBe('hello world'); expect(didError).not.toBe(true); expect(catchError()).toStrictEqual({ message: 'oh noes!' }); ``` For `null`, `undefined`, and `NaN`, this rule triggers a warning if `toBe` is used to assert against those literal values instead of their more specific `toBe` counterparts: ```js expect(value).not.toBe(undefined); expect(getMessage()).toBe(null); expect(countMessages()).resolves.not.toBe(NaN); ``` The following pattern is not warning: ```js expect(value).toBeDefined(); expect(getMessage()).toBeNull(); expect(countMessages()).resolves.not.toBeNaN(); expect(catchError()).toStrictEqual({ message: undefined }); ```