Hierarchy highlighting

Indicating degrees of relatedness between a visual element in a graphical user interface (GUI) representing a software object and other visual elements in the GUI representing other software objects is disclosed. The visual elements may, or may not, be in the same view in the GUI. Embodiments may indicate degrees of relatedness by modifying the appearance of visual elements in response to an action on the visual element representing a software object; on the visual elements representing the other software objects; on the software object; or on one or more of the other software objects. Embodiments may indicate degrees of relatedness by applying hierarchical levels of highlighting to visual elements; by applying hierarchical changes to visual elements; or by other hierarchical visual cues applied to visual elements.