Visibility Utilities `visible/invisible`

Control the visibility of elements without affecting their layout space using visibility utilities.

Quick Reference

visible

Make element visible

visibility: visible

invisible

Hide element but preserve space

visibility: hidden

Interactive Examples

Visible vs Invisible

All Elements Visible

Element 1 (visible)

Element 2 (visible)

Element 3 (visible)

Middle Element Invisible

Element 1 (visible)

Element 2 (invisible - space preserved)

Element 3 (visible)

✓ Invisible elements preserve their layout space

✓ Other elements don't move to fill the space

✓ Element is not visible but still affects layout

<div class="invisible">Hidden but space preserved</div>

Visibility vs Display Comparison

Using invisible (space preserved)

Box 1

Box 2

Box 3

Using hidden (space collapsed)

Box 1

Box 3

invisible: Element hidden, space preserved

hidden: Element removed from layout flow

Interactive Visibility Toggle

Always visible element

Toggleable element (visible)

Always visible element

✓ Notice how the layout doesn't shift when toggling

✓ Space is always preserved for the middle element

Responsive Visibility

Always visible

Hidden on mobile, visible on desktop (invisible md:visible)

Visible on mobile, hidden on desktop (visible md:invisible)

Always visible

✓ Resize window to see responsive behavior

✓ Space is preserved at all breakpoints

<div class="invisible md:visible">Responsive visibility</div>

Common Use Cases

🎯 Loading States

Hide content while preserving layout during loading.

<div class="invisible">Loading...</div>

📱 Responsive Design

Show/hide elements at different breakpoints.

<div class="invisible md:visible">

🎨 Animation Preparation

Hide elements before animating them in.

<div class="invisible animate-fade-in">

🔧 Form Validation

Show/hide error messages without layout shift.

<span class="invisible text-red-500">

📊 Data Visualization

Toggle chart elements without affecting layout.

<g class="invisible">Chart layer</g>

🎮 Interactive Elements

Hide/show UI elements in games or apps.

<div class="invisible hover:visible">

Visibility vs Other Hiding Methods

Method Comparison

Method	Space	Events	Screen Reader
`invisible`	✓ Preserved	✗ No events	✗ Hidden
`hidden`	✗ Collapsed	✗ No events	✗ Hidden
`opacity-0`	✓ Preserved	✓ Events work	✓ Accessible
`sr-only`	✗ Collapsed	~ Limited	✓ Accessible

When to Use Each Method

invisible

When you need to hide content but preserve layout space. Good for loading states and preventing layout shifts.

hidden

When you want to completely remove content from layout. Good for responsive design and conditional content.

opacity-0

When you need invisible content that can still receive events. Good for animations and interactive overlays.

sr-only

When content should only be available to screen readers. Good for accessibility labels and descriptions.

Best Practices

✅ Do

• Use invisible to prevent layout shifts
• Combine with responsive utilities for adaptive design
• Use for loading states and skeleton screens
• Consider accessibility when hiding content
• Test with screen readers when appropriate
• Use for form validation messages

❌ Don't

• Use invisible when hidden is more appropriate
• Hide important content without providing alternatives
• Use for content that should be completely removed
• Forget about keyboard navigation implications
• Use when opacity or other methods would be better
• Hide content that affects user understanding

Related Layout Classes