What is progressive disclosure? Disclose the right information

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One technique for lowering UI complexity is progressive disclosure, which can be helpful for designers looking to make products less intimidating for users.

This article discusses progressive disclosure in UX, when to apply it, helpful progressive patterns, practical examples, and the implementation process.

What is progressive disclosure?

Progressive disclosure is a powerful method UX designers use to lessen cognitive burden. As a user navigates through a digital product’s interface, more complex features or information are gradually revealed, empowering them to understand and use the product more effectively.

Progressive disclosure was first presented in 1995 as an interaction design pattern by Jakob Nielsen, co-founder of the renowned Nielsen Norman Group. The goal was to lower user errors in complex programs.

To do this, designers divide challenging activities into smaller, more doable steps, showing users one at a time. With this systematic approach, users can complete complicated activities without becoming overwhelmed by a lot of information and directions at once.

Progressive disclosure is a user-centric approach that aims to show users what and when they need it. Designers hide advanced functions and information using user interface patterns like accordions and modal windows. This method maintains a simple and friendly main user interface, making users feel valued and considered.

Designers use progressive disclosure to:

1. Make sure new users are successful right away.
2. Assist users with different levels of experience, from novices to professionals.
3. Make sporadic duties less apparent.
4. Maintain a simple, straightforward user interface.

A multi-step form, commonly utilized for online store checkouts, is the most prevalent progressive disclosure example. As an example, consider the following steps:

1: Name and shipping address

2: Choices for shipment

3: Payment information and purchase confirmation

4: A page of success or gratitude

Categories of progressive disclosure

Three classifications exist for progressive disclosure:

1. Step-by-step: dividing difficult jobs into digestible segments
2. Conditional: withholding some features and pieces until the user asks for them
3. Contextualization: It refers to providing options and more details depending on the user’s circumstances.

When to implement progressive disclosure?

Here are four situations where you can take progressive disclosure UX into account.

1. Challenging assignments

When complex tasks are divided into digestible portions, users can more easily comprehend and finish them. If you store each step, users can return to finish tasks later.

2. Contextual assistance

Designers frequently employ contextual aid in the form of tooltips, pop-ups, hotspots, and other UI components to guide users through activities. For example, to help users focus, a designer might draw attention to the form field they must fill out next.

3. Onboarding

Progressive disclosure works incredibly well for onboarding, as designers may explain steps in a particular process using contextual help by offering in-app tutorials and walkthroughs.

4. Design of content

The amount of content in product paperwork might be difficult to read and comprehend, particularly. Progressive disclosure is a tool that content designers can use to show consumers the most critical information first, with the opportunity to explore more content for those who require it.

The progressive pattern in UI

1. Accordions

Accordions allow consumers to decide when and if they need content. These design patterns are beneficial when designers need to convey a large amount of content, such as FAQs.

2. Tabs

Tabs allow designers to categorize content so users can access it as needed. These tabs also reduce scrolling, which is very useful for mobile apps.

3. Dropdown menus

Dropdown menus keep UIs clean by hiding large lists. Hiding this content allows users to concentrate on their current tasks without being distracted by extraneous information. Consider completing a form with all nations, states/provinces, and cities displayed. It would be a nightmare to navigate.

4. Scrolling

Presenting the most crucial content above the fold can assist visitors in finding answers or completing activities without having to scroll. Designers can deliver additional content and functionality as visitors scroll. This type of progressive disclosure is frequently used on sales landing pages to encourage visitors to make a quick decision or scroll for additional information.

5. Dialog boxes and pop-ups

When a user hovers or clicks on a UI element, dialog boxes, pop-ups, and tooltips appear, providing further information. This progressive disclosure UX strategy allows users to find solutions without quitting their jobs while maintaining clutter-free interfaces.

Progressive disclosure examples

1. Google advanced search

Google’s core search is straightforward: one input field, a few alternatives, an image search, and two buttons. Most people will use the essential search tool.

Google’s Advanced Search is more complicated, with several fields and choices for users to refine their searches, such as language, region, exact phrase, last updated, etc.

2. Dropbox’s file sharing options

When you share a file with Dropbox, the file-sharing options are initially obscured, leaving only the email field and the “Share file” button accessible.

To access advanced settings such as “File settings” and “Link for viewing,” users must first click “Settings.”

3. eCommerce product pages

Designers employ progressive disclosure on product websites to avoid overwhelming clients. Accordions or tabs are commonly used to hide details, allowing customers to choose whether or not to see them.

For example, this Shopify Themes product page merely shows the quantity stepper and the “Add to Cart” button. The product description, shipping and returns information, and customer feedback are buried behind accordions.

The progressive disclosure design process

1. Identify user needs

As demonstrated in the preceding instances, recognizing what content and information your consumers require is critical for progressive disclosure. To identify these requirements, designers can utilize basic UX research approaches, such as user interviews and usability testing.

2. Prioritize information

Next, designers employ card sorting and affinity mapping to prioritize information and features, allowing users to achieve their objectives more efficiently. Designers, for example, may hide the items with the lowest importance or use the hierarchy to construct an efficient multi-step procedure.

3. Determine the appropriate amount of detail

Once the information has been sorted, designers must decide on each detail level. What information must designers provide first, and what must follow?

4. Design for simplicity

Keeping user interfaces basic and easy to use is critical. Designers must only supply the content and features necessary to fulfill a single job or decision, so the first three phases outlined above are crucial for progressive disclosure.

John Maeda’s 10 Laws are a practical framework for achieving design simplicity.

1. Reduce: remove whatever is not needed.
2. Organize: simplifies complex systems.
3. Time: conserving time feels simple.
4. Learn: knowledge makes things simpler.
5. Differences: balancing simplicity and complexity.
6. Context: “What is on the fringe of simplicity is not peripheral.”
7. More emotion is better than less. Simplicity equals trust.
8. Failure: some things were supposed to be more complex.
9. The one: remove the obvious and include the significant.

5. Prototype and test

The final stage is to prototype and test your solution. Designers must also consider usability and guarantee that their designs do not cause problems. For example, hide features so that users cannot find them.

Best practices for progressive disclosure

When implementing progressive disclosure, designers must consider the following.

1. Keep critical information visible

Conduct user research to determine what content is necessary and advanced. Use techniques such as card sorting and task analysis. Observe the users’ concerns while they perform a task.

Then, create a task flow that depicts the processes from encountering an issue to finding a solution. These insights can help the user find the primary material they need.

2. Limit the number of information layers

A single secondary screen is usually enough for each occurrence of progressive disclosure. Multiple levels can confuse users, making identifying “hidden” functionality challenging.

Simpler designs are frequently more effective than numerous layers of progressive disclosure. If simplicity is not achievable, combine UI patterns. For example, many settings menus organize settings by combining tabs or menus with modal windows.

3. Avoid taking several access paths

Users may need clarification on whether they can access the same information or feature in multiple ways. For usability, a single, straightforward method is preferable. Tree diagrams assist designers in visualizing their products’ content and ensuring a single path to each piece of information or configuration.

4. Guide the user

Progressive disclosure helps to simplify the main interface and ease new users into a program. To keep sophisticated content discoverable, designers assist users in the following ways:

1. Make it apparent where advanced features are available. Icons, labels, and other signifiers can help to gain clarity. These indicators signal that further information is accessible. Arrows, buttons, ellipses, and text are some examples (for example, “more alternatives”).
2. Use the onboarding tutorials. Explain the significant hidden features and how to reach them using tutorials. Tutorials should provide a skip option to avoid frustrating sophisticated users.
3. Provide contextual assistance. Tooltips, pop-ups, and other contextual aid patterns lead users through their learning experiences. These patterns might notify users that sophisticated functionalities are available.
4. Implement feedback methods. Use prompts and feedback to help users discover and use hidden features. For example, suppose a user completes their first task in an application. A prompt may appear to congratulate them and recommend a relevant advanced function they have yet to experience.

Conclusion

Progressive disclosure is crucial for UX designers to craft user-friendly and intuitive interfaces. By incrementally revealing information and features, this technique reduces cognitive load and maintains a clean UI, enhancing the overall user experience.

To implement progressive disclosure successfully, designers should understand user needs, prioritize information, and focus on simplicity. Ultimately, progressive disclosure enables users to navigate tasks smoothly and confidently, resulting in a more satisfying interaction with digital products.

Frequently asked questions

1. What are the pros and cons of progressive disclosure? 

Pros of progressive disclosure include:

Reduced cognitive overload: Users are not overwhelmed with too much information at once, making it easier to process and understand.

Improved user experience: By progressively revealing information, users can focus on specific tasks or content without being distracted by irrelevant details.

Enhanced learnability: Users can learn how to navigate and use the interface more effectively as they discover new information in a structured way.

Cons of progressive disclosure may include:

Increased interaction cost: Users may need to perform more interactions to access the desired information, which can be time-consuming.

Lack of visibility: Hidden information may prevent users from accessing important content or features if they are unaware of its existence.

Inconsistency in design: Poorly implemented progressive disclosure can confuse users, who may need help to predict when and where information will be revealed.

Overall, progressive disclosure in UX can be a helpful design strategy. Still, it is essential to consider and implement the trade-offs effectively to provide a positive user experience.

2. What is the meaning of progressive disclosure?

Progressive disclosure is a design principle that gradually reveals information as it becomes relevant or needed instead of overwhelming the user with all the information. It helps to simplify complex interfaces by presenting information progressively based on user interaction. In essence, progressive disclosure aims to enhance user experience by managing complexity and providing information more digestibly.

3. What are some excellent progressive disclosure examples in popular applications?

Google Maps presents many layered information, including locations, traffic, and points of interest. The primary user interface (UI) shows a broad map overview. Users can zoom in or search for specific locations for more detailed information. Reviews, real-time traffic updates, and street views are all included in this material. This method guarantees that customers will be satisfied with material unrelated to their current needs. 

Progressive disclosure makes Instagram‘s straightforward UI with extensive functionality possible. The primary stream prioritizes photo and video material and is tidy. Users navigating the app only see extra features and options like editing tools and filters. Progressive disclosure does not impede the first view, making the experience more enjoyable. 

Slack strikes a good balance between team communication complexity and simplicity. In the primary user interface, channels and direct messages are displayed in an orderly. Users can request specific features like app integration and workflows through secondary panels. Because of progressive disclosure, Slack remains powerful for experienced users while being approachable for novices.