How to Fix Chart Rendering Issues Using visibility: hidden

While working on the “Assets Created“ report graph in Laravel application, we encountered an odd rendering issue:

•  It worked in Incognito Mode
•  It worked when browser extensions were disabled
•  It failed after using $(‘.assets-graph-container’).hide()

After technical analysis, we identified that switching from:

$(‘.assets-graph-container’).hide(); // Applies display: none

to:

$(‘.assets-graph-container’).css(‘visibility’, ‘hidden’); // Keeps layout flow intact

resolved the issue across all environments.

This article breaks down why that happened and how you can avoid similar rendering issues in dynamic, graph-heavy interfaces using tools like Chart.js within a Laravel backend.

Root Cause Analysis

 Why hide() Failed

Using jQuery’s hide() function applies display: none to the element, which:

• Removes the element from the layout flow.
• Results in zero width and height.
• Requires a full reflow when toggled.
• It is sensitive to browser extensions (e.g., Grammarly, AdBlock), which can intercept and disrupt DOM mutations.

This often caused the graph not to render or to appear incorrectly.

 Why visibility: hidden Worked

The CSS property visibility: hidden:

• Keeps the element in the layout (space remains allocated).
• Prevents reflow and layout recalculation.
• Bypasses extension interference during render.
• Allows Chart.js to access container dimensions for accurate rendering.

 Why Incognito Mode Worked

Most browser extensions are disabled in incognito mode, which is why:

• The rendering worked as expected.
• There were no interruptions from JavaScript injections by extensions.

 Technical Deep Dive: The Race Condition

 What Happened in Normal Browsers?

Consider the following pattern:

When this logic is executed:

• Browser extensions (like Grammarly or ad blockers) inject scripts that interfere with DOM changes.
• show() gets delayed, skipped, or is too late for Chart.js to pick up dimensions.
• As a result, the graph doesn’t render or appears blank.

 Why visibility: hidden Solved It

Switching to visibility: hidden:

• Avoids DOM removal, so layout data is intact.
• Doesn’t require reflow, avoiding race conditions.
• Allows Chart.js to render based on correct container size.
• Keeps interactions blocked, similar to display: none, when needed.

 Key Takeaways

  Prefer visibility: hidden for Dynamic Charts

Use visibility: hidden instead of display: none when hiding containers for dynamic visual content.

  Extensions Can Break Rendering

Always test UI behavior in Incognito Mode and check for possible extension interference.

  Debugging Tips

• Look for console warnings related to extensions.
• Disable extensions one by one during testing.
• Try alternatives like:

opacity: 0;

pointer-events: none;

(⚠️ Requires more careful CSS handling.)

 Final Solution Implemented

 Old Code:

 New Code:

Results:

•  Consistent rendering across all browsers
•  No more issues from extensions
•  Smooth Chart.js rendering

Appendix: Additional Notes

• Affected Browsers: Chrome (with extensions), Firefox, Safari
• Extensions Known to Cause Issues:  Grammarly, AdBlock, Dark Reader
• Alternative Fix: Use opacity: 0 + pointer-events: none to hide while retaining layout — but test thoroughly.

Conclusion

When working with dynamic visualizations in Laravel applications using tools like Chart.js, CSS visibility matters. If you’re facing inconsistent rendering:

• Avoid display: none before rendering
• Use visibility: hidden to keep layout stable
• Always test with/without browser extensions

This small change can save hours of debugging and lead to a more robust user interface. At 2Hats Logic Solutions, our expert developers specialize in solving complex UI problems. Whether in Laravel apps or other modern frameworks. Contact us to help you build smoother, bug-free experiences.