Progressive Disclosure
Reveal only what users need when they need it to cut cognitive load and streamline flows.
Definition
Progressive disclosure is an interaction design technique that shows only the essential information up front and reveals additional details on demand.
It leverages cognitive psychology by reducing initial cognitive load, preventing information overload, and guiding users through a step-by-step journey.
This principle is fundamental in human-computer interaction because it respects users’ limited attention and memory, ensuring they aren’t overwhelmed by complexity before they’re ready.
Real world example
Think about Gmail’s ‘Show details’ link in email conversations. You see the sender, subject, and a snippet first. Only when you click ‘Show details’ do you get full headers, timestamps, and routing info, keeping your inbox clean and focused.
Real world example
In user onboarding flows where you want to guide new users step-by-step without scaring them off with advanced settings.
On crowded settings pages, where hiding expert-level controls behind toggles or ‘Advanced’ sections prevents novices from getting lost.
Within form wizards or multi-step checkout processes, revealing additional fields only after prerequisite selections keeps the interface lean and focused.
What are the key benefits?
Everything you need to make smarter growth decisions, without the guesswork or wasted time.
Group related options behind expandable sections labeled by user intent.
Use clear, action-oriented triggers (e.g., ‘More info’, ‘Advanced’) to reveal extra details.
Progressively surface form fields based on previous answers to tailor complexity.
What are the key benefits?
Everything you need to make smarter growth decisions, without the guesswork or wasted time.
Don’t hide critical actions behind obscure or unlabeled toggles.
Avoid burying common settings under ‘Advanced’ if 80% of users need them.
Never delay essential feedback or error messages until a user clicks to reveal them.
Frequently asked questions
Growth co-pilot turns your toughest product questions into clear, data-backed recommendations you can act on immediately.
When should I use progressive disclosure versus a flat layout?
Use progressive disclosure when your interface has advanced features or optional details that would overwhelm novices. If 90% of users need every option, keep it flat.
How many levels of disclosure are too many?
Generally, limit to two levels deep. More than two clicks to get to essential info risks hiding it completely and spikes drop-off.
Does progressive disclosure hurt discoverability?
It can if triggers are vague. Always label toggles clearly (e.g., ‘Show advanced settings’) and use analytics to track reveal rates.
How do I test if my progressive disclosure is working?
A/B test with one group seeing full details and another using progressive disclosure. Compare completion rates, time-on-task, and error frequency.
Can progressive disclosure improve mobile UX?
Absolutely. On small screens, hiding secondary content in expandable panels frees up precious real estate and focuses users on primary tasks.
Stop Overwhelming Users
Run your core flows through CrackGrowth’s diagnostic to pinpoint where you’re burying or overloading content, and fix it before you lose another user.