Storybook Addon Docs Bug: React Hooks Error & Fix

Nov 25, 2025 by Alex Johnson 50 views

Storybook Addon Docs Bug: React Hooks Called Outside Component

Understanding the `@storybook/addon-docs` Bug

If you're encountering the frustrating "Rendered more hooks than during the previous render" error in your Storybook project while using @storybook/addon-docs, you're not alone. This bug, specifically within the code panel of the addon, can prevent you from seamlessly switching between documentation and story pages, disrupting your workflow. This comprehensive guide dives deep into the intricacies of this issue, offering a clear understanding, reproduction steps, and potential solutions to get your Storybook back on track. Let's explore this bug and how to fix it.

At its core, the bug stems from React Hooks being called outside of a React component, a violation of React's fundamental rules. This occurs within the @storybook/addon-docs code panel and manifests when transitioning from a docs page to a story page. The error, often accompanied by a cryptic stack trace pointing to a specific line in the Storybook codebase, can be perplexing for developers unfamiliar with the inner workings of Storybook addons. Understanding the root cause is the first step in effectively addressing the problem. The error message Rendered more hooks than during the previous render is a clear indicator that React's internal state management is being disrupted due to the improper use of hooks. This usually happens when a component's rendering logic changes between renders, leading to a different number of hooks being called. In the context of Storybook, this can be triggered by the dynamic nature of addon panels and their interaction with React's rendering lifecycle. To fully grasp the issue, it's essential to consider the interplay between Storybook's addon system and React's component model. Addons, like @storybook/addon-docs, extend Storybook's functionality by injecting custom UI elements and logic into the Storybook environment. When these addons incorrectly use React Hooks, they can inadvertently interfere with the rendering of Storybook's core components, resulting in the dreaded hooks error. The fact that this error only surfaces when switching from a docs page to a story page suggests a specific interaction pattern that triggers the bug. This could be related to how the addon panel is mounted and unmounted, or how data is passed between different parts of the Storybook UI. Debugging this type of issue requires a deep understanding of React's rendering behavior, as well as familiarity with Storybook's addon API.

Reproducing the Bug: A Step-by-Step Guide

To effectively tackle this bug, you need to be able to reproduce it consistently. Here's a detailed breakdown of the steps involved, ensuring you can replicate the issue and test potential fixes. The steps involve setting up a minimal reproduction environment, navigating through Storybook, and observing the error firsthand. By following these steps, you'll gain a practical understanding of the bug's behavior.

Access the Reproduction Link: The most direct way to reproduce the bug is to use the provided StackBlitz link: https://stackblitz.com/edit/github-q1k1zjzr?file=.storybook%2Faddon%2Fpreset.ts,.storybook%2Faddon%2Fmanager.tsx,.storybook%2Fmain.ts,.storybook%2Fpreview.ts&preset=node. This link leads to a pre-configured Storybook project that exhibits the bug. StackBlitz offers a convenient online environment for running and modifying code, making it ideal for bug reproduction and experimentation. When you open the StackBlitz link, you'll be presented with a fully functional Storybook project, complete with the necessary configurations and components to trigger the bug. This eliminates the need to set up a local development environment, streamlining the reproduction process.
Navigate to an Individual Story: Once the StackBlitz project loads, the next step is to navigate to an individual story within Storybook. This involves clicking on a story item in the Storybook navigation panel. The navigation panel typically lists all the stories defined in your project, organized by component and story name. By selecting a story, you'll instruct Storybook to render that particular story in the main display area. This step is crucial because the bug only manifests when transitioning from a docs page to a story page. If you directly load a story page, the bug may not be triggered. The act of switching from the docs page to a story page seems to be the catalyst that exposes the underlying issue in the @storybook/addon-docs code panel.
Observe the Error: The key step in reproducing the bug is to observe the error message. Specifically, you're looking for the "Rendered more hooks than during the previous render" error, along with the accompanying stack trace. This error indicates that React Hooks are being called in an invalid context, which is the root cause of the problem. The stack trace will provide valuable clues as to the exact location in the code where the error is occurring. In this case, the stack trace should point to the line in manager.tsx within the @storybook/addon-docs addon. The error message and stack trace are essential pieces of information for diagnosing and resolving the bug. They provide concrete evidence of the issue and pinpoint the area of code that needs attention. By carefully examining the error message and stack trace, you can gain a deeper understanding of the bug's behavior and formulate a strategy for fixing it.
Note the Loading Behavior: It's important to note that the bug may not always occur if the page loads directly on an individual story. This suggests that the issue is related to the transition between the docs page and the story page. If you find that the bug doesn't manifest when directly accessing a story, try navigating to a docs page first and then switching to the story. This sequence of actions is more likely to trigger the bug and allow you to reproduce it consistently. The fact that the bug is sensitive to the navigation path highlights the importance of understanding the interaction between different parts of the Storybook UI. The addon panel, the story rendering area, and the overall navigation system all play a role in triggering the bug.

System Information

The reported system information provides crucial context for understanding the bug. In this case, the Storybook version is 10.1.0-beta.2. This indicates that the bug was present in a beta release of Storybook, suggesting that it may have been a recent introduction or a regression from a previous version. Knowing the specific Storybook version is essential for troubleshooting.

When reporting bugs, it's always helpful to include detailed system information, such as the Storybook version, Node.js version, operating system, and any relevant dependencies. This information helps maintainers and other developers reproduce the bug in a similar environment and identify potential conflicts or compatibility issues. In this case, the Storybook version is the most critical piece of information, as it directly relates to the codebase where the bug is likely to exist. Beta releases are often more prone to bugs than stable releases, as they contain new features and changes that may not have been thoroughly tested. Therefore, knowing that the bug was observed in a beta release can help narrow down the search for the root cause.

Additional Context and Potential Causes

The original bug report mentions that the error appears to arise only if another addon with the same bug is present. This is a significant clue, suggesting that the issue may be exacerbated by interactions between multiple addons. If one addon is incorrectly calling React Hooks outside of a component, it may create a conflict or interfere with the rendering of other addons, including @storybook/addon-docs. This highlights the importance of considering the entire addon ecosystem when debugging Storybook issues.

To further investigate this potential cause, it would be helpful to identify other addons that might be exhibiting similar behavior. This could involve reviewing the code of other addons or searching for reports of similar errors in the Storybook community. If multiple addons are found to be misusing React Hooks, it may indicate a more systemic issue with how addons are interacting with React's rendering lifecycle. In such cases, a more comprehensive solution may be required, such as updating the Storybook addon API or providing better guidance on how to use React Hooks within addons. The fact that the bug is triggered by the presence of another addon suggests that the issue may not be solely confined to @storybook/addon-docs. It could be a more general problem that affects multiple addons that rely on React Hooks. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the entire addon ecosystem is warranted to ensure that the bug is fully understood and addressed.

Possible Solutions and Workarounds

While a definitive solution may require a patch from the Storybook team, there are a few potential workarounds you can try in the meantime:

Identify Conflicting Addons: If you suspect that another addon is contributing to the issue, try temporarily disabling addons one by one to see if the error disappears. This can help you pinpoint the problematic addon.
Update Storybook and Addons: Ensure you're using the latest versions of Storybook and all your addons. Bug fixes are often included in newer releases.
Review Addon Code: If you have the ability to examine the code of the addons you're using, look for instances where React Hooks might be called outside of a component. This can be a challenging task, but it may reveal the source of the issue.

Conclusion

The @storybook/addon-docs bug, characterized by React Hooks being called outside of a component, can be a significant impediment to your Storybook workflow. By understanding the bug, reproducing it effectively, and exploring potential solutions, you can take steps to mitigate its impact. While a comprehensive fix may require a patch from the Storybook team, the workarounds discussed here can help you stay productive in the meantime. Remember to stay updated with the latest Storybook releases and community discussions to ensure you have access to the most current information and solutions.

For more information about React Hooks and their proper usage, you can visit the official React documentation: React Hooks