Understand how widgets are shown based on the new Visibility Rules

Updated On 15 Oct 2025
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The new Visibility Rules experience provide more flexibility and control over where, when, and to whom the content is displayed. For more information, see Understand the new Visibility Rules.

Understanding these rules is important because, after you create your widgets and configure the new Visibility Rules (such as when, where, and to whom), Whatfix shows the widgets contextually, either instantly or based on certain events or actions.

The following shows the types of new Visibility Rules, how they function, and examples:

Type of new Visibility Rule	Functionality	Example
Instant Action Rule	These rules are evaluated immediately when the specified condition is met. As soon as the condition is triggered, the widget is displayed without any delay.	A Smart Tip appears instantly when a user visits a specific URL (for example, www.example.com).
Scheduled Action Rule	These rules are evaluated over time and are triggered by specific events or User actions. The widget is displayed only after an event or action occurs.	A Survey is set to appear only after a user clicks a specific button (for example, a Submit Feedback button). The widget doesn’t appear as soon as the page loads, it waits for the user to interact with the button before showing the Survey.

Types of new Visibility Rules, Sub-Rules, and Example Use Cases

When start rule

Note
All When start rules must be valid on the same page. For example, you cannot create a condition that looks for elements on different pages in the application. The condition must be based on elements that are all on the same page and can be accessed when the condition is checked.

Rule	Sub-rule	Rule Type	Example Use Case
Specific date range	-	Instant Action	To display a Pop-up during a specific period, specify the date and time range for when the Pop-up should appear. Whatfix checks the current date immediately when the page loads and displays the Pop-up if it falls within the specified range. As the evaluation occurs instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
Something on the application	Element	Scheduled Action	To display a Smart Tip only when a specific element is present on the page, Whatfix checks for the element's presence at regular intervals during user interaction. Since the check occurs over time rather than instantly, it is a Scheduled Action rule.
	Local Storage	Scheduled Action	A widget is displayed when a specific condition in Local Storage is met. Whatfix checks Local Storage at regular intervals, and if the condition is satisfied, the widget appears. Since the check occurs over time rather than instantly, it is a Scheduled Action rule.
	Session storage	Scheduled Action	A widget is displayed when certain conditions are met during the session, such as after a user clicks an element on the page a specified number of times. Whatfix checks the conditions over time, and if satisfied, the widget appears. Since the check occurs over time rather than instantly, it is a Scheduled Action rule.
	Cookie	Instant Action	A widget is displayed based on a value set in the user's cookies within the application. Whatfix checks the cookie value immediately when the page loads, and if it matches the specified condition, the widget appears. Since the check occurs instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
	Window Variable	Instant Action	A widget is displayed when a specific condition, set in a window variable within the application, is met. Whatfix checks the window variable immediately when the page loads within the application, triggering the widget if the condition matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
User performing an action Note When you select User performing an action, ensure the Where condition is set on the page where the user action leads to.	-	Scheduled Action	A widget appears after a user completes a specific action, such as clicking the Submit button on a form. Whatfix evaluates the action and then displays the widget. Since the evaluation happens over time rather than instantly, it is a Scheduled Action rule.
Events related to Whatfix content Note When you select Events related to Whatfix, all the Where and Who conditions will be disabled.	-	Scheduled Action	A widget appears when a Whatfix event, such as a Flow starts in an application. Whatfix evaluates the event and then displays the widget. Since the evaluation happens over time rather than instantly, it is a Scheduled Action rule.

When end rule

Rule	Sub-rule	Rule Type	Example Use Case
A set number of times	-	Instant Action	A widget appears a specific number of times in a session, such as up to three times, within the application. Whatfix tracks the number of displays and stops once the set number is reached. Since the evaluation happens instantly, this is an Instant Action rule.
Unlimited times	-	Instant Action	A widget is displayed each time a user visits a specific webpage within the application. Whatfix checks the page load event immediately and displays the widget each time the page loads. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.

Where rule

Rule	Sub-rule	Rule Type	Example Use Case
URL	-	Instant Action	A widget appears only on the specified URL. Whatfix checks the URL immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if it matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
Domain	-	Instant Action	A widget is shown only on the specified domain, such as www.google.com. Whatfix checks the domain immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if it matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
URL path	-	Instant Action	A widget appears only on the specified path, such as `/user/dashboard`. Whatfix checks the path immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if it matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
URL parameter	-	Instant Action	A widget is shown when the specified parameter is present in the URL, such as `?theme=dark`. Whatfix checks the query parameter immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if it matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
URL hash value	-	Instant Action	A widget appears when the specified URL hash value is present, such as `#account-overview`. Whatfix checks the URL hash value immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if it matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
Page tags	-	Instant Action	A widget appears based on the presence of specific Smart Context tags associated with the page. Whatfix checks the active tags on the page immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if the required tag is present. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.

Who rule

Rule	Sub-rule	Rule Type	Example Use Case
Enterprise attributes	-	Instant Action	A widget is displayed based on specific Enterprise Attributes, such as user roles or departments. Whatfix checks the attributes immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if the data matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
User attributes	-	Instant Action	A widget is shown when specific custom data associated with the end user is present. Whatfix checks the attributes immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if the data matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
Roles	-	Instant Action	A widget is displayed based on the user's role, such as account manager or editor. Whatfix checks the role tags immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if the role matches. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.
Cohorts	-	Instant Action	A widget appears if the user belongs to a specific cohort. Whatfix checks if the user belongs to the cohort immediately when the page loads and displays the widget if there’s a match. Since the evaluation happens instantly, it is an Instant Action rule.

Note
Click the various Content elements of the following Flowchart for more information.

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