Why can finding a unique element be tricky when using Active Accessibility?

Finding a unique element can be tricky when using Active Accessibility because elements may not always be displayed. In user interfaces, particularly those built on dynamic frameworks, certain elements can be hidden or removed from the view based on user interactions or application states. This can lead to situations where even though the accessibility tree has references to these elements, they might not be interactable or visible to the user at a specific time, complicating element identification and interaction.

The nature of GUI applications often involves elements being created, shown, hidden, or modified throughout the application lifecycle. Because of this, relying solely on the availability of elements in the accessibility tree may not guarantee their visibility or usability, thus making it challenging to access and manipulate them reliably.