Meaning of the word "on the surface" in English

What does "on the surface" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

on the surface

US /ɒn ðə ˈsɜːrfɪs/
UK /ɒn ðə ˈsɜːrfɪs/

Idiom

apparently; seemingly; when not looking deeply into something

Example:
On the surface, everything seemed fine, but I knew there were underlying issues.
He appears confident on the surface, but he's actually quite insecure.