     
     /**
      *  The parent container or component for this component.
-     *  Only visual elements should have a parent property.
+     *  Only visual elements should have a <code>parent</code> property.
      *  Non-visual items should use another property to reference
      *  the object to which they belong.
-     *  By convention, non-visual item objects use an <code>owner</code>
+     *  By convention, non-visual objects use an <code>owner</code>
      *  property to reference the object to which they belong.
      *  
      *  @langversion 3.0

{

    /**
     *  The owner of this IVisualElement. By default, it is the parent of this IVisualElement.
     *  However, if this IVisualElement object is a child component that is
     *  popped up by its parent, such as the dropdown list of a ComboBox control,
     *  the owner is the component that popped up this IVisualElement object.
     *
     *  <p>This property is not managed by Flex, but by each component.

    function get depth():Number;

    /**
     *  Controls the visibility of this visual element. 
     *  If <code>true</code>, the object is visible.
     * 
     *  <p>If an object is not visible, but the <code>includeInLayout</code> 
     *  property is set to <code>true</code>, then the object 
     *  takes up space in the container, but is invisible.</p>
     * 
     *  <p>If <code>visible</code> is set to <code>true</code>, the object may not
     *  necessarily be visible due to its size and whether container clipping 
     *  is enabled.</p>
     * 
     *  <p>Setting <code>visible</code> to <code>false</code>, 
     *  prevents the component from getting focus.</p>
     * 
     *  @default true
     *  @see ILayoutElement#includeInLayout
