# Element

Immutable descriptor for a single node in PythonNative's virtual view
tree. `Element` instances are produced by the
[component factories](components.md) and consumed by the
[`Reconciler`][pythonnative.reconciler.Reconciler].

You almost never construct an `Element` by hand; the factory functions
exist precisely so app code stays in plain Python.

::: pythonnative.element
    options:
      show_root_heading: false
      show_root_toc_entry: false
      members_order: source
      filters: ["!^_"]

## Next steps

- See how trees of elements get mounted in
  [Reconciliation](../concepts/reconciliation.md).
- Browse the built-in element types in [Components](components.md).