What role does the layout engine play in a browser?

The layout engine is a crucial component of a web browser that is responsible for rendering web pages visually. Its primary function is to take the HTML content of a webpage, along with its associated style rules defined in CSS, and determine how these elements should be displayed on the screen. This involves calculating the size and position of each element, handling complex layouts, and ensuring that the visual representation matches the design specified by the web developers.

By managing the visual presentation, the layout engine ensures that users see the intended structure and aesthetics of web pages, which enhances the overall user experience. This process occurs after the browser has parsed the HTML and CSS, allowing the layout engine to create a visual representation of the content based on the defined styles. In summary, the layout engine's role in arranging the visual aspect of web pages is fundamental to how users interact with the content on the internet.