To run visual testing with Storybook, install the official @chromatic-com/storybook addon, connect a Chromatic project, create an initial visual-test build to establish baselines, then run tests after UI changes and review each difference before accepting it or fixing it. Add the visual check to CI so changes can be reviewed before merging.
What Storybook visual testing checks
Stories are the units under test. A visual test renders a story and compares its appearance with a previously accepted screenshot baseline. A difference flags a visual change for review; it does not decide whether that change is correct.
Storybook documents cross-browser visual testing through Chromatic, its cloud visual testing service, using the official @chromatic-com/storybook addon. The screenshots and change detection run in the cloud. See Storybook’s visual testing documentation.
Visual tests versus other Storybook tests
| Test type | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Render test | Did the story render without an error? |
| Interaction test | Does the UI behave as expected when actions are simulated and assertions run, often through a story’s play function? |
| Visual test | Does the rendered appearance differ from the accepted baseline? |
| Accessibility or markup snapshot test | Does the story meet accessibility checks or match a markup snapshot? These are separate test types, not visual regression tests. |
A screenshot diff can reveal an unexpected layout or styling change, but it does not replace interaction assertions that verify behavior.
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Set up Storybook visual tests
1. Install the official addon
From your project directory, run Storybook’s documented command:
npx storybook@latest add @chromatic-com/storybookThe addon is the documented integration for running Chromatic visual tests from Storybook. Check the project’s Storybook version and the current addon guidance if you are working in an older installation.
2. Link your Storybook project
- Start Storybook in your project.
- Open the Visual Tests panel. If your project uses the Vitest addon, look for the Visual Tests section in the testing widget.
- Sign in to Chromatic when prompted, then select an existing project or create one.
3. Establish the first baseline
Run the first visual-test build. It creates baseline snapshots for the project’s stories. Later runs compare newly rendered stories against those accepted baselines. Treat the first run as the reference point: inspect the resulting stories so the baseline represents the UI you intend to preserve.
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Run tests and review visual changes
Run a check after a UI change
After changing a component or its styling, run visual tests from the Run button in the expanded testing widget or from the Visual Tests addon panel. The stories are sent to Chromatic for snapshots and visual-change detection.
Decide whether each difference is intentional
- Open a highlighted story and inspect the changed pixels in its diff.
- If the difference is an intended design change, accept it as the new baseline.
- If the difference is unexpected, fix the story or component, then rerun the visual tests.
Do not accept a diff merely because it is highlighted or because a build needs to be cleared. Acceptance changes what future runs treat as the expected appearance.
Add visual tests to CI
Run visual checks during development and in CI before a merge. Configure CI authentication with the project token, then use the pull-request or merge-request check to surface errors and changes that still need review. The appropriate token setup and CI configuration depend on your project and provider; follow the Chromatic CI documentation rather than committing a secret into source code.
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CI adds a review point before merge; it does not make visual judgment automatic. Someone still needs to inspect flagged differences and decide whether to accept the new appearance or fix a regression.
Choose the right test for the change
- Use visual tests when the concern is rendered appearance across stories.
- Use interaction tests when you need to simulate user actions and assert behavior.
- Run checks locally while developing to catch changes early, and in CI to review changes before merge.
- Accept a baseline only when the visual change is intentional; otherwise fix the cause and rerun.
Storybook test-runner compatibility
Avoid copying older @storybook/test-runner setup steps into a new visual-testing guide without checking compatibility. The official addon listing says support for the Storybook Test Runner has ended, points Vite-based projects toward Storybook’s Vitest integration, and specifies different compatible test-runner package versions for Storybook 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Check the listing for the version you use: @storybook/test-runner addon information.
For interaction tests, Storybook’s current guide describes using the Vitest addon through the Storybook UI, editor, CLI, or CI. That workflow is distinct from the Chromatic visual comparison workflow: Storybook interaction testing.
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Troubleshoot common visual-testing problems
The addon command does not complete or the integration is missing
Confirm that you ran npx storybook@latest add @chromatic-com/storybook from the project directory and that Storybook starts. If the project uses an older Storybook release, consult the addon’s compatibility guidance rather than assuming the latest setup applies unchanged.
You cannot see the Visual Tests panel
Start the project’s Storybook after installing the addon. If you use the Vitest addon, check the testing widget for its Visual Tests section rather than looking only for a standalone panel.
The first run shows many differences
The first build establishes the baseline; it is not a comparison against a prior accepted set for that project. Review the rendered stories to confirm they show the intended UI before treating them as the reference.
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A visual change appears in a later run
Open the highlighted story and inspect the diff. Accept the new baseline for an intentional change; for an unexpected change, fix the story or component and rerun.
CI cannot authenticate or reports a pending change
Check that CI has the project token configured securely and that the pull-request or merge-request check is connected to the intended project. A pending visual change needs review; a token issue needs a CI secret/configuration fix. Use Chromatic’s CI setup guidance for provider-specific steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a visual test prove that a UI works correctly?
No. It checks rendered appearance against a baseline. Use interaction tests with assertions to check behavior.
Does the first Storybook visual-test run compare against an existing baseline?
No. The initial build creates the project’s baseline snapshots; later runs compare against accepted baselines.
Quick Recap
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