What's the best way to verify element visibility using Puppeteer and vanilla JavaScript?

Other Questions Puppeteer
1

I’m trying to figure out how to check if a DOM element is actually visible on the page using Puppeteer and plain JavaScript. No jQuery allowed! By visible, I mean the element isn’t hidden by CSS tricks like display: none or anything else.

I’ve got a basic example that checks if my #menu element isn’t hidden by display: none:

const isShowing = await page.$eval('#menu', (el) => {
  return window.getComputedStyle(el).display !== 'none'
})

But this feels incomplete. How can I make sure the element is truly visible, considering all possible CSS hiding methods? Any tips or tricks would be super helpful!

I’ve been scratching my head over this for a while now. It seems like there should be a straightforward way to do this, but I’m coming up empty. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

2

hey there! have you tried using the getBoundingClientRect() method? it can help check if an element is within the viewport. something like:

const isVisible = await page.$eval('#menu', (el) => {
  const rect = el.getBoundingClientRect();
  return rect.top >= 0 && rect.left >= 0 && rect.bottom <= window.innerHeight && rect.right <= window.innerWidth;
});

this should cover most cases, including off-screen elements. hope it helps!

3

I’ve had success using the IntersectionObserver API for this exact scenario. It’s a powerful tool that can accurately determine if an element is visible in the viewport. Here’s how you can implement it with Puppeteer:

const isVisible = await page.evaluate(() => {
  return new Promise(resolve => {
    const observer = new IntersectionObserver(entries => {
      resolve(entries[0].isIntersecting);
      observer.disconnect();
    });
    observer.observe(document.querySelector('#menu'));
  });
});

This approach not only checks if the element is in view but also accounts for scrolling and dynamic content changes. It’s more robust than relying solely on CSS properties or dimensions. Just remember to set an appropriate timeout in Puppeteer to allow for the observer to complete its check.

4

I’ve encountered this issue before, and found that combining multiple checks yields the most reliable results. Here’s an approach I’ve used successfully:

const isVisible = await page.$eval('#menu', (el) => {
  const style = window.getComputedStyle(el);
  return style.display !== 'none' &&
         style.visibility !== 'hidden' &&
         style.opacity !== '0' &&
         el.offsetWidth > 0 &&
         el.offsetHeight > 0;
});

This method checks various CSS properties that might hide the element, as well as ensuring the element has measurable dimensions. It is more comprehensive than solely verifying the display property and should address most visibility concerns. It’s wise to test it in different scenarios for confirmation.