<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019dd584-98a2-77e9-ab36-9000a69b45a8,g:6bc9e25a-5f15-426c-9376-df22fe8480ad-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.cognex.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cgnx-20260429.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.cognex.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019dd584-98a2-71af-90de-22b0471a4f7b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019dd584-98a2-71af-90de-22b0471a4f7b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_019dd584-98a2-7ade-9f57-1b39cb75b15b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_019dd584-98a2-7ade-9f57-1b39cb75b15b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_019dd584-98a2-71bb-8df3-b0a3470e66e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_019dd584-98a2-71bb-8df3-b0a3470e66e7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_019dd584-98a2-798b-8886-ca97ad887a02" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_019dd584-98a2-798b-8886-ca97ad887a02" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_019dd584-98a2-74cf-bffb-3773f241b05c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_019dd584-98a2-74cf-bffb-3773f241b05c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_019dd584-98a2-7932-9fc9-9c7d9e4d819e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_019dd584-98a2-7932-9fc9-9c7d9e4d819e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_019dd584-98a2-76d8-8636-1e2c9fa92ca9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_019dd584-98a2-76d8-8636-1e2c9fa92ca9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_019dd584-98a2-7035-a7d0-addd9478d752" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_019dd584-98a2-7035-a7d0-addd9478d752" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_019dd584-98a2-7718-b3be-649a69bc464b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_019dd584-98a2-7718-b3be-649a69bc464b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_019dd584-98a2-77cd-bd66-4ca970d277cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_019dd584-98a2-77cd-bd66-4ca970d277cd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_019dd584-98a2-7f8d-b1e9-0d646e399054" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_019dd584-98a2-7f8d-b1e9-0d646e399054" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019dd584-98a2-7728-81fa-09a83e5bf970" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019dd584-98a2-7728-81fa-09a83e5bf970" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_019dd584-98a2-77c2-90bc-d556ea483841" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_019dd584-98a2-77c2-90bc-d556ea483841" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_019dd584-98a2-7df3-9152-9e32395b906f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_019dd584-98a2-7df3-9152-9e32395b906f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_019dd584-98a2-7a86-a2df-f65c3c242e10" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_019dd584-98a2-7a86-a2df-f65c3c242e10" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_019dd584-98a2-7e17-ad6d-dd1a1bc1f373" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_019dd584-98a2-7e17-ad6d-dd1a1bc1f373" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_019dd584-98a2-7ec9-8fd1-6d51eb88249a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_019dd584-98a2-7ec9-8fd1-6d51eb88249a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_019dd584-98a2-7e40-959d-c5e1e009e3ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_019dd584-98a2-7e40-959d-c5e1e009e3ce" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_019dd584-98a2-7a08-b121-ca0506c0f2fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_019dd584-98a2-7a08-b121-ca0506c0f2fd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_019dd584-98a2-7884-aeff-2ef42163d5d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-793a-ac71-63f902836982" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_019dd584-98a2-7884-aeff-2ef42163d5d1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.cognex.com/role/DocumentandEntityInformation" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cgnx-20260429.xsd#DocumentandEntityInformation"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.cognex.com/role/DocumentandEntityInformation" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-704a-b12c-6adc91cd5ded" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019dd584-98a2-7db3-b71e-e33f8f53c5ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019dd584-98a2-704a-b12c-6adc91cd5ded" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019dd584-98a2-7db3-b71e-e33f8f53c5ad" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis_019dd584-98a2-72e7-b41f-9b1d870f6205" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019dd584-98a2-7db3-b71e-e33f8f53c5ad" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis_019dd584-98a2-72e7-b41f-9b1d870f6205" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentDomain_019dd584-98a2-7133-94bd-552b51b65c1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis_019dd584-98a2-72e7-b41f-9b1d870f6205" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentDomain_019dd584-98a2-7133-94bd-552b51b65c1b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019dd584-98a2-7560-9631-b18af78918d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019dd584-98a2-7db3-b71e-e33f8f53c5ad" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019dd584-98a2-7560-9631-b18af78918d4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019dd584-98a2-775a-9065-700c05e931a7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019dd584-98a2-7560-9631-b18af78918d4" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019dd584-98a2-775a-9065-700c05e931a7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019dd584-98a2-7742-b13d-3e2e20a46cbc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019dd584-98a2-7560-9631-b18af78918d4" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019dd584-98a2-7742-b13d-3e2e20a46cbc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>