# VisualElement.Hierarchy

> Hierarchy is a struct allowing access to the hierarchy of visual elements

## Definition

* **Type:** Struct
* **Namespace:** [UnityEngine.UIElements](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEngine.UIElementsModule

```csharp
public struct VisualElement.Hierarchy
```

## Properties

| Property                                                                                                   | Description                                                 |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| [childCount](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/childcount.md) | Number of child elements in this object's contentContainer  |
| [this\[\]](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/item.md)         | Returns the element at the specified index in the hierarchy |
| [parent](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/parent.md)         | The physical parent of this element in the hierarchy.       |

## Methods

| Method                                                                                                   | Description                                                                               |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Add](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/add.md)             | Adds an element to this element's `contentContainer`.                                     |
| [Children](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/children.md)   | Returns the physical children of the element.                                             |
| [Clear](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/clear.md)         | Removes all child elements from this element's hierarchy.                                 |
| [ElementAt](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/elementat.md) | Retrieves the child element at position                                                   |
| [Equals](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/equals.md)       | Compares instances of the Hierarchy struct for equality.                                  |
| [IndexOf](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/indexof.md)     | Retrieves the index of the specified VisualElement in the Hierarchy.                      |
| [Insert](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/insert.md)       | Insert an element into this element's contentContainer                                    |
| [Remove](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/remove.md)       | Removes this child from the hierarchy.                                                    |
| [RemoveAt](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/removeat.md)   | Removes a child, at the provided index, from the contentContainer of the current element. |
| [Sort](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/sort.md)           | Reorders child elements from this VisualElement contentContainer.                         |

## Operators

| Operator                                                                                                       | Description                                                |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| [operator ==](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/op-equality.md)   | Compares instances of the Hierarchy struct for equality.   |
| [operator !=](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/uielements/visualelement/hierarchy/op-inequality.md) | Compares instances of the Hierarchy struct for inequality. |