A first process communicates to a second process what data will be used to display a graphical user interface element such as a window or screen. The second process determines if the data used to display the graphical user interface element has changed, and, if the data used to display the graphical user interface element has changed, communicates to a third process that the data used to display the graphical user interface element has changed. Moreover, the third process receives the communication that the data used to display the graphical user interface element has changed, and, in response to the communication that the data used to display the graphical user interface element has changed, displays the graphical user interface element.