What\'s the Key Difference Between CSS `display` and `visibility` Properties?

Unlocking the Distinction between CSS Display and Visibility Properties

When it comes to HTML page layout, CSS properties like display and visibility play a crucial role in controlling the appearance and behavior of elements. Understanding their differences is essential for effective web development.

What's the Difference?

The visibility property governs whether an element is visible or not. When set to visible, the element is displayed, while hidden causes the element to disappear from the page without affecting its place in the DOM.

In contrast, the display property dictates the visual representation of an element on the page. It specifies whether the element should be displayed inline (flow with text), block-level (have height and width), or another visual format like inline-block.

Example: Block Elements Hiding in Plain Sight

Consider an element with block-level display set to hidden. Although invisible, the browser still treats it as a block element in terms of its position and behavior. This is akin to placing a visible box over an invisible one, creating the illusion of the former floating independently.

Impact on Page Layout

Unlike display: none, elements with non-none display properties still impact the layout of surrounding elements, regardless of their visibility status. This means that invisible elements can still create spacing and flow irregularities in the page.

In summary, the visibility property simply determines the presence or absence of an element, while the display property governs its visual presentation, affecting both its appearance and the layout of its surroundings.

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