UX Law

Progressive Disclosure

Reveal information as users need it, not all at once.

Definition

Progressive Disclosure is a design strategy that aims to maintain user focus and reduce clutter by revealing information and options as they become relevant. This prevents overwhelming users with too much information or too many choices at once.

Do

Gradually expose advanced features as users become more proficient
Use tooltips or other methods to provide additional information on hover or click
Break long forms into smaller, logically grouped sections
Design interfaces that allow users to drill down into more detailed information

Avoid

Don't expose users to overwhelming amounts of information at once
Don't hide critical information or features that users need immediately
Don't make users search for information or options they need frequently
Don't use progressive disclosure as an excuse to avoid simplifying complex interfaces