Understanding the CSS 'visibility' Property

In CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), the 'visibility' property is used to show or hide an element in a webpage. What distinguishes it from other CSS properties, like 'display' and 'opacity', is that it controls an element's visibility without disrupting the flow of the web layout.

Even though the 'display' and 'opacity' properties also deal with visibility, they work differently. 'Display' property with value 'none' completely removes the element from the layout, and it also won't take up any space. On the other hand, 'opacity' manipulates the transparency level of an element.

In contrast, even when 'visibility' is set to 'hidden', the element will still occupy its original space in the layout, but appears invisible.

Here is an example of how you can use the 'visibility' property:

.element{
  visibility: hidden;
}

In the example above, the .element class, perhaps a div or span or any other HTML element, will disappear from view but its space will be preserved.

The 'visibility' is a versatile property with various values:

• 'visible': The element is visible.
• 'hidden': The element is invisible (transparent), but still affects layout.
• 'collapse': Used for table rows, row groups, columns, column groups, and, in some instances, for a 'flex' container.

In the context of best practices, it's important to use the 'visibility' property when you want to hide an element but still maintain the structure of your webpage. It's less ideal when you want to completely remove an element and its occupied space from the layout, for that 'display: none' is a suitable choice. As for transparency manipulation, 'opacity' property has got you covered.

By understanding the unique behaviors of CSS visibility properties like 'visibility', 'display', and 'opacity', you can develop intuitive and interactive designs in your web application development journey. Remember, every detail, even the invisible elements, can enhance the overall user experience of your website.