To provide visualization data to a client device, a server generates a plurality of display objects for selectively displaying at the client device to a user. Each display object includes at least one of a data portion and a graphics portion. The plurality of display objects is assigned to a plurality of vertices organized as a logical display tree. A mask specifying visual characteristics of the plurality of vertices is created. The visual characteristics of a given vertex simultaneously controls display attributes of all display objects assigned to the given vertex. The server transmits a description of the plurality of display objects, the logical display tree and the mask in a payload format.