# Visual Tree

## Introduction

At runtime, every `GraphicalUiElement` (and the runtime classes that derive from it — `ContainerRuntime`, `TextRuntime`, `SpriteRuntime`, control visuals, and so on) lives in a parent-child hierarchy known as the **visual tree**. A screen, a Forms control, or any composite component you build is always a sub-tree of `GraphicalUiElement` instances rooted at a parent.

This section covers tasks that involve navigating or manipulating that tree from code: finding a specific child by name or type, walking ancestors, enumerating descendants, and similar runtime operations.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.flatredball.com/gum/code/visual-tree.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.