What happens during the rendering phase of a web application's page lifecycle?

During the rendering phase of a web application's page lifecycle, the browser takes the processed HTML, CSS, and JavaScript generated by the server or client-side scripts and creates a visual representation of the web page. This involves interpreting the code and converting it into a graphical interface that users can interact with. The rendering process encompasses painting the layout of different elements, applying styles, and handling any dynamic content, ultimately delivering a fully formed web page to the end-user.

This phase is crucial as it directly impacts the user's experience. If rendering is efficient, users can see and interact with the content quickly. Conversely, if the rendering process is slow or inefficient, it can lead to a poor user experience due to delays in loading and displaying content. The rendering phase thus represents the final step where all previous computations and preparations culminate in a visible output on the user's device.