Storyblok Best Practices

Comprehensive best practices guide for Storyblok CMS development, designed for AI agents and LLMs helping agency developers. Contains 40 rules across 24 categories, prioritized by impact to guide automated code generation and content architecture decisions.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Designing Storyblok content models and component schemas
• Integrating Storyblok with React, Vue, Nuxt, or Next.js
• Configuring Visual Editor and real-time preview
• Building custom field plugins with @storyblok/field-plugin
• Implementing Content Delivery API or Management API
• Setting up internationalization (i18n) with field or folder translations
• Configuring webhooks for cache invalidation and automation
• Managing multi-space architectures and CI/CD workflows
• Handling rich text fields with custom resolvers
• Optimizing images and performance with Image Service
• Building tool plugins or space plugins (sidebar apps)
• Setting up preview/production environments

Rule Categories by Priority

Quick Reference

1. Content Modeling (CRITICAL)

• model-component-structure – Follow atomic design for components
• model-field-configuration – Configure field types with validation
• model-block-nesting – Manage block nesting with restrictions
• model-naming-conventions – Use consistent naming (snake_case)

2. SDK Integration (CRITICAL)

• sdk-storyblok-editable – Always apply storyblokEditable() to components
• sdk-component-registration – Register all components globally
• sdk-richtext-rendering – Render rich text with custom resolvers

3. Visual Editor (CRITICAL)

• editor-bridge-setup – Configure Storyblok Bridge correctly
• editor-draft-published – Handle draft/published content properly

4. Performance & Caching (CRITICAL)

• perf-image-optimization – Use Image Service for optimized delivery
• perf-cache-invalidation – Implement proper cache invalidation with cv parameter
• perf-monitoring – API and content performance monitoring

5. Security & Authentication (CRITICAL)

• security-token-handling – Secure API token management
• security-roles-permissions – RBAC and access control configuration

6. Field Plugins (HIGH)

• plugin-field-development – Build field plugins with @storyblok/field-plugin SDK

7. API Development (HIGH)

• api-content-delivery – Use Content Delivery API correctly with pagination
• api-graphql – Use GraphQL API for optimized queries
• api-management – Use Management API for CRUD operations

8. Internationalization (HIGH)

• i18n-field-translation – Implement field-level translations correctly
• i18n-folder-level – Folder-level translations with Dimensions app

9. Next.js Integration (HIGH)

• nextjs-app-router – Integrate with Next.js App Router and RSC

10. Nuxt Integration (HIGH)

• nuxt-integration – Configure @storyblok/nuxt module correctly

11. App Development (HIGH)

• app-tool-plugins – Build tool and space plugins with App Bridge

12. Space & Asset Management (HIGH)

• space-asset-management – Organize assets and datasources
• space-multi-environment – Multi-space architecture for enterprise

13. Webhooks & Automation (MEDIUM-HIGH)

• webhook-configuration – Configure webhooks for content events

14. Workflows & Publishing (MEDIUM-HIGH)

• workflow-releases – Use Releases for scheduled publishing
• workflow-pipelines – Pipeline stages for content staging

15. CLI & DevOps (MEDIUM)

• cli-component-sync – Use CLI for component schema management

16. Testing & Quality (MEDIUM)

• test-preview-environments – Set up preview and production environments
• test-unit-integration – Unit, integration, and E2E testing strategies

17. Rich Text & Media (MEDIUM)

• richtext-media-handling – Handle rich text media correctly

18. Common Patterns (HIGH)

• pattern-typescript – Generate and use TypeScript types
• pattern-error-handling – Implement robust error handling
• pattern-debugging – Debugging and troubleshooting guide
• pattern-relations-references – Story links, relations, and reference resolution

19. SEO & Structured Data (HIGH)

• seo-structured-data – JSON-LD, Open Graph, and sitemap configuration

20. E-commerce Integration (HIGH)

• ecommerce-integration – Commerce platform integration patterns

21. Content Migration (MEDIUM-HIGH)

• migration-patterns – Content migration strategies and tooling

22. AI Features (MEDIUM)

• ai-content-features – Storyblok AI capabilities and RAG preparation

23. Collaboration (MEDIUM)

• collaboration-realtime – Real-time editing, comments, and conflict resolution

24. Custom Apps (MEDIUM)

• app-custom-sidebar – Sidebar apps and tool plugins beyond field plugins

Core Principles

Visual Editor First

Storyblok’s Visual Editor is the primary editing experience:

• Always apply storyblokEditable() to components
• Configure the Storyblok Bridge for live editing
• Test components in the Visual Editor, not just code

Content Delivery vs Management API

Framework Integration

Token Security

Never expose these in client-side code:

• Preview tokens (show draft content)
• Personal access tokens (full write access)
• OAuth tokens (scoped access)

Safe for client-side:

• Public tokens (read-only published content)

How to Use

Read individual rule files for detailed explanations and code examples:

rules/model-component-structure.md
rules/sdk-storyblok-editable.md
rules/editor-bridge-setup.md
rules/perf-image-optimization.md
rules/security-token-handling.md

Each rule file contains:

• Brief explanation of why it matters
• Incorrect code example with explanation
• Correct code example with explanation
• Configuration tables and references

Key Resources

• Storyblok Documentation
• React SDK
• Nuxt Module
• Field Plugin SDK
• Storyblok CLI
• Content Delivery API
• Management API