Javascript is a widely used scripting language. It is used to make webpages interactive and can be used in a variety of contexts. One of the most commonly used functions in Javascript is to use the “display none” command. It is important to understand what this function does, how it is used, and the pros and cons of using it.
What Is Display None?
“display: none” is a CSS property value. JavaScript can be used to manipulate this CSS property of an element, but the property itself is from CSS.This means that the element will still exist in the document, but will not be visible on the page. It is important to note that display none is different than removing the element entirely with the ‘remove’ command, as the element is still part of the web page and can be accessed. The display none command can be used in a variety of ways, such as hiding certain elements on page load, hiding an element based on a user action, or hiding an element from certain areas of the page. It can be a very useful command when used correctly.
In addition to hiding elements, display none can also be used to show elements that were previously hidden. This can be done by setting the display property to ‘block’ or ‘inline’. This can be useful for creating dynamic content on a web page, as elements can be hidden or shown based on user input or other conditions. Display none can also be used to create a toggle effect, where an element is hidden or shown when a user clicks a button or link.
How To Use Display None
Using display none is relatively simple. It is a single line of code and you must simply provide the element’s name that you wish to hide. For example, if you wish to hide an element with the ID of “my_element”, you would use:
document.getElementById("my_element").style.display = "none";
This will hide the element with the specified ID from the page.
It is important to note that display none will not remove the element from the page, it will simply hide it. This means that the element will still take up space on the page, but it will not be visible. If you wish to completely remove the element from the page, you should use the remove() method instead.
Benefits of Using Display None
The main benefit of using display none is that it provides a way to temporarily hide HTML elements on a web page without having to actually delete them from the document. This can be useful in a number of ways, such as hiding elements that are only used in certain parts of the page, or providing a more streamlined user experience. For example, if a page has a form that users usually will not need to fill out, you could use display none to hide the form until it is needed.
Another benefit of using display none is that it can help to improve page loading times. By hiding elements that are not needed, the browser does not have to spend time downloading and rendering them, which can help to speed up the loading of the page. Additionally, using display none can help to reduce the amount of code that needs to be sent to the browser, which can also help to improve page loading times.
Comparison of display: none with other methods:
- Visibility:
- Using
visibility: hidden;hides the element but still occupies space in the layout. It’s as if the element has turned transparent but is still there. - Usage:
document.getElementById("my_element").style.visibility = "hidden";
- Using
- Opacity:
- Opacity is different from visibility. When you set the opacity of an element to zero, it becomes transparent but still clickable and present in the layout.
- Usage:
document.getElementById("my_element").style.opacity = "0";
- Position:
- Setting an element’s position to be off the visible page (
position: absolute; left: -9999px;) hides it but doesn’t prevent it from being rendered, possibly affecting performance. - Usage:
let elem = document.getElementById("my_element"); elem.style.position = "absolute"; elem.style.left = "-9999px";
- Setting an element’s position to be off the visible page (
- z-index:
- Changing the z-index could hide the element behind others if its stacking context allows it. This method doesn’t remove the element from the document flow and isn’t a typical way to hide content.
- Usage:
document.getElementById("my_element").style.zIndex = "-1";
Using JavaScript Libraries: Many developers leverage libraries like jQuery, which provides methods like .hide(), .show(), and .toggle() to easily manipulate the display property.
Common Problems With Using Display None
One of the most common problems with using display none is that it can interfere with other elements of the page, such as links or buttons. If an element is hidden with display none, it may cause other elements on the page to malfunction or behave improperly. Additionally, if display none is applied incorrectly, it may make an element that is still technically visible on the page difficult to access unless it is unhidden.
Another issue with using display none is that it can cause page loading times to increase. This is because the browser still needs to load the element, even though it is hidden. This can cause the page to take longer to load, which can be a problem for users with slower internet connections.
Alternatives To Using Display None
There are several other ways to temporarily hide an element on a web page besides using display none. The ‘visibility’ command can be used, which will make an element invisible while still leaving it in the document. Additionally, the ‘opacity’ command can be used to make an element blend into the background and effectively disappear.
Another option is to use the ‘position’ command to move an element off the page. This will make the element invisible, but it will still take up space in the document. Finally, the ‘z-index’ command can be used to move an element behind other elements on the page, making it effectively invisible.
Tips For Troubleshooting Display None Issues
If you are running into issues with using display none, there are several steps you can take to diagnose and fix the problem. First, make sure that you have applied display none correctly – specifically, ensure that you have passed in the correct element ID. Additionally, make sure that any other elements on the page are functioning properly and that display none is not causing them to malfunction. Finally, use your browser’s developer tools to track down any hidden elements and ensure that they are functioning correctly.
If the issue persists, you may need to check the CSS code for any errors. Additionally, you can try using a different browser to see if the issue is browser-specific. If the issue is still not resolved, you may need to contact a web developer for assistance.
Accessibility Considerations
It’s important to consider accessibility when hiding elements. Hidden elements should still be accessible to screen readers unless they are deliberately meant to be hidden from all users.
Performance Considerations
While hiding elements can improve the perceived performance by not showing everything at once, too many hidden elements (especially if they contain heavy resources like images or videos) can still impact the actual loading performance of a page.
Conclusion
The display none command is a useful tool for temporarily hiding HTML elements on a web page. Although it can be useful when used correctly, it is important to remember that it can cause unexpected behavior with other elements and needs to be used with caution. Additionally, if you are running into issues with display none, there are several tools available to help you troubleshoot and diagnose the problem.
It is also important to note that display none is not the only way to hide elements on a web page. Other methods, such as using the visibility property, can also be used to hide elements. However, it is important to understand the differences between these methods and how they can affect the behavior of other elements on the page.
by the Bito team. 
