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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:01a08c18-2af0-7f7a-80d5-fe4c47e80e79,g:1c92648a-5022-4ceb-ac8b-8bb69fae5f2e-->
<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-20260922.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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_01a08c18-2af0-7402-abda-65d7ded422e4" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_01a08c18-2af0-7402-abda-65d7ded422e4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_01a08c18-2af0-780a-94c2-a2ee44c57235" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_01a08c18-2af0-780a-94c2-a2ee44c57235" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_01a08c18-2af0-7fdf-a2ea-6b9900751cf4" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_01a08c18-2af0-7fdf-a2ea-6b9900751cf4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_01a08c18-2af0-74da-ba56-f4641db90a92" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_01a08c18-2af0-74da-ba56-f4641db90a92" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_01a08c18-2af0-76b3-87aa-1df6dfbb1ee2" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_01a08c18-2af0-76b3-87aa-1df6dfbb1ee2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_01a08c18-2af0-756a-abbf-266c9d7aa4f3" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_01a08c18-2af0-756a-abbf-266c9d7aa4f3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_01a08c18-2af0-7246-b5a2-95cd4460e784" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_01a08c18-2af0-7246-b5a2-95cd4460e784" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_01a08c18-2af0-7656-9c76-9c9fe0c6f9cf" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_01a08c18-2af0-7656-9c76-9c9fe0c6f9cf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_01a08c18-2af0-7d80-83f1-99e88a4e0c3c" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_01a08c18-2af0-7d80-83f1-99e88a4e0c3c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_01a08c18-2af0-787e-befd-dbaec12b7e7c" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_01a08c18-2af0-787e-befd-dbaec12b7e7c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_01a08c18-2af0-710a-8662-63f850ecab96" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_01a08c18-2af0-710a-8662-63f850ecab96" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_01a08c18-2af0-7a3f-89fa-eeb995d35842" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_01a08c18-2af0-7a3f-89fa-eeb995d35842" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_01a08c18-2af0-7882-b16e-641a3e920aa0" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_01a08c18-2af0-7882-b16e-641a3e920aa0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_01a08c18-2af0-7205-aa69-0fd785a2b624" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_01a08c18-2af0-7205-aa69-0fd785a2b624" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_01a08c18-2af0-786a-87d9-a7205dff8add" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_01a08c18-2af0-786a-87d9-a7205dff8add" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_01a08c18-2af0-7ef6-9a0d-a1ed83d37e6c" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_01a08c18-2af0-7ef6-9a0d-a1ed83d37e6c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_01a08c18-2af0-73d9-a91e-ec194cc49e8b" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_01a08c18-2af0-73d9-a91e-ec194cc49e8b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_01a08c18-2af0-7608-b8eb-067596ab3838" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_01a08c18-2af0-7608-b8eb-067596ab3838" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_01a08c18-2af0-72ca-bc9d-2cf5f3c7c6a0" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_01a08c18-2af0-72ca-bc9d-2cf5f3c7c6a0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_01a08c18-2af0-7233-8a37-bfff25e64989" 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_01a08c18-2af0-725c-b97b-393862d35ea8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_01a08c18-2af0-7233-8a37-bfff25e64989" 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-20260922.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_01a08c18-2af0-7a06-b378-49c1caad6b28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_01a08c18-2af0-7969-9e35-0e790dab8eff" 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_01a08c18-2af0-7a06-b378-49c1caad6b28" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_01a08c18-2af0-7969-9e35-0e790dab8eff" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis_01a08c18-2af0-7ae3-8cc0-719b5b88886c" 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_01a08c18-2af0-7969-9e35-0e790dab8eff" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis_01a08c18-2af0-7ae3-8cc0-719b5b88886c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentDomain_01a08c18-2af0-794a-87ea-0a8d566d87ad" 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_01a08c18-2af0-7ae3-8cc0-719b5b88886c" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentDomain_01a08c18-2af0-794a-87ea-0a8d566d87ad" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_01a08c18-2af0-7477-922d-bc643a9dfa0d" 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_01a08c18-2af0-7969-9e35-0e790dab8eff" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_01a08c18-2af0-7477-922d-bc643a9dfa0d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_01a08c18-2af0-7623-a018-aa1c4ff50050" 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_01a08c18-2af0-7477-922d-bc643a9dfa0d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_01a08c18-2af0-7623-a018-aa1c4ff50050" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_01a08c18-2af0-7a4b-bf1e-e3d9999c4598" 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_01a08c18-2af0-7477-922d-bc643a9dfa0d" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_01a08c18-2af0-7a4b-bf1e-e3d9999c4598" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
