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To test website screenshots with Storybook and Chromatic, install the official @chromatic-com/storybook addon in a Storybook 7.6-or-later project, connect it to a Chromatic project, and run a first build to establish screenshot baselines. Later runs compare each story’s rendered appearance against those baselines; review each difference, accept intentional changes, and fix regressions. Add the check to CI so pull or merge requests surface visual changes before they are merged.

What Chromatic and Storybook test

A Storybook story renders a component in a particular state or variation. With visual testing enabled, Chromatic captures that rendered story and compares its pixels with the story’s known baseline. This makes each story a visual test case; the coverage depends on the states your team has actually represented in stories.

Screenshot comparison is useful for finding unintended changes to appearance, including layout, color, size, and contrast. It is different from a DOM or HTML snapshot test, which checks markup rather than the rendered pixels. Storybook describes visual tests as a way to catch bugs in UI appearance. Use markup snapshots when the thing you need to verify is non-visual output; use visual tests when the rendered result matters. Neither replaces interaction tests when the requirement is that controls behave correctly. Storybook’s visual testing guide explains the documented workflow and distinction between test types.

Set up Chromatic visual testing

1. Check the Storybook version and add the integration

The documented integration requires Storybook 7.6 or later and uses the official @chromatic-com/storybook addon. From the project root, run:

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The Storybook CLI adds the addon and guides the project through setup. If your project uses an older Storybook version, upgrade to a supported version before following this flow. See the official Storybook visual testing instructions for the current setup details.

2. Connect your Storybook to a Chromatic project

Sign in to Chromatic, select an existing project or create one, and follow the addon’s prompts to link the repository and project. Chromatic supplies cloud browsers for running the visual tests. Keep the resulting project token private; it is the credential the CI job will use to authenticate.

3. Run a first build to create baselines

Run the visual test using the command and configuration produced during setup. The first successful run captures the stories and establishes their known-good screenshot baselines. A baseline is the reference image for subsequent comparisons, not proof that every captured state is correct: review the initial results and make sure the stories render as intended before relying on them as a reference.

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4. Add meaningful story coverage

Chromatic can compare only the story states your Storybook contains. Include the variants that matter to the interface: for example, component sizes, selected or disabled states, error states, and content variations that could affect layout. A single default story cannot detect a regression in an unrepresented state.

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Run tests and review screenshot differences

After a component or story changes, run the visual tests again. Chromatic captures the rendered stories and compares them with their baselines. Changed stories are highlighted in Storybook; open the Visual Tests panel to inspect the pixel differences.

  1. Inspect the changed story. Look at the rendered result and the difference, not just the fact that a change was detected.
  2. For an intentional change, accept it. Accepting the result updates the baseline so later runs compare against the new appearance.
  3. For an unexpected change, fix the component or story. Rerun the tests to confirm the corrected result matches the intended appearance.

A detected difference is a review prompt, not an automatic verdict that the code is wrong. A deliberate redesign should produce a new baseline; an accidental spacing, color, or sizing change should be corrected before it is accepted.

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Run Chromatic in CI before merging

Use the addon during development for feedback, then run Chromatic in your CI workflow so changes are checked before merge. Follow the setup instructions for your CI provider and store the Chromatic project token as a CI environment variable or secret rather than committing it to the repository.

For configured pull or merge requests, the workflow can report a UI Tests check. Teams can make that check required in their Git provider’s branch protection or merge settings, preventing a change from being merged until the visual result has been reviewed and the check passes according to the team’s policy. The exact CI configuration depends on the provider; use the Chromatic documentation for provider-specific setup.

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Or skip the browser setup

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Troubleshoot common problems

The addon command fails or the integration does not appear

Check that the project is using Storybook 7.6 or later and that the command was run from the project root. The documented integration is the official @chromatic-com/storybook addon; consult Storybook’s current guide if your project’s setup differs.

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A story is missing from the results

Confirm that the state you expect is represented by a Storybook story and that the story is available to the visual test run. Visual coverage follows the stories in the project, so an un-authored state cannot be compared.

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A run flags changes you expected

Review the difference in the Visual Tests panel. If the new appearance is intentional, accept it to update the baseline. If not, correct the component or story and rerun rather than accepting an unintended result.

The CI check cannot authenticate

Verify that the Chromatic project token is configured in the CI environment used by the job, and that the workflow passes the token as expected by the setup instructions. Do not put the token in source control. For provider-specific configuration, use Chromatic’s current CI documentation.

Cost, runtime, and reliability considerations

Chromatic runs visual tests in cloud browsers, so the comparison is not a screenshot captured solely in a developer’s local browser. CI runs make checks visible in the pull or merge request flow, while local runs can help catch a change sooner during development. The sources cited here do not establish current Chromatic pricing, plan limits, detailed browser coverage, or service guarantees; check Chromatic’s current product information before making purchasing or service-level decisions.

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For reliable coverage, keep stories focused on meaningful interface states and review baseline changes deliberately. A screenshot diff can reveal a visual regression, but it does not explain the cause; use the changed story and component code to determine whether the difference is intentional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Chromatic screenshot difference automatically mean a bug?

No. It identifies a visual change for review; accept it if intentional or correct the component if it is a regression.

Can Storybook visual tests replace interaction tests?

No. They compare rendered appearance. Interaction tests address behavior, while DOM or HTML snapshots address markup.

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