# Progressive Disclosure Progressive Disclosure is a design pattern that sequences information across layers to reduce complexity. Only essential information is shown initially; additional details become available on demand. The concept was formalized by [[J.M. Carroll]] and [[M.B. Rosson]] at IBM in the 1980s. [[Jakob Nielsen]] later popularized it as one of the most valuable concepts in UX design. The principle addresses [[Working Memory]] limitations: by showing less at once, users focus on what matters now without being overwhelmed. It appears everywhere in interfaces: accordion menus, wizards, "Show more" links, advanced settings behind toggles. ## The model ``` Layer 1: ESSENTIAL (always visible) Core features needed by all users ~20% of features for ~80% of tasks │ ▼ (on demand) Layer 2: SECONDARY (available on request) Features needed by some users Additional options, more details │ ▼ (on demand) Layer 3: ADVANCED (expert features) Specialized features for power users Configuration, customization, edge cases ``` ## Common implementation patterns - **Accordion**: expandable sections (FAQs, long forms) - **Show more/less**: toggle additional content - **Wizard/Stepper**: multi-step processes - **Tabs**: content categories - **Modal/Drawer**: overlay for details or advanced options - **Hover/Tooltip**: information on hover - **Progressive forms**: fields appear as needed - **Advanced settings**: complex options hidden behind toggles ## Benefits - Reduced cognitive load. Less information to process at once - Cleaner interfaces with less visual clutter - Faster task completion by focusing on essentials - Better [[Learnability]] through gradual introduction - Serves both novices (simple defaults) and experts (accessible advanced features) ## Risks - Hiding essential information users need immediately - Too many clicks to reach needed features - Discoverability problems when "more" affordances are unclear - Context switching when related information gets split across layers ## Design guidelines 1. Prioritize ruthlessly: what do 80% of users need immediately? 2. Make disclosure obvious with clear "more" affordances 3. Preserve context; don't lose the user's place 4. Allow experts to skip ahead 5. Keep hierarchy shallow (max 2-3 levels) 6. Group related items together ## Progressive Disclosure in Context Engineering The same principle applies directly to [[Context Engineering]] for [[AI Agents]]. Instead of front-loading every instruction, rule, skill, and piece of knowledge into the context window, progressive disclosure structures AI context into layers that load on demand. This is exactly what the [[Prompt Lazy Loading AI Design Pattern (PLL)]] implements: defer the loading of prompts, context, data, and rules until they're actually needed. Combined with the [[Receptionist AI Design Pattern]], it creates a system where: - **Layer 1**: Core identity, base rules, and routing logic are always present - **Layer 2**: Role-specific instructions and skills load when a task is routed - **Layer 3**: Detailed reference data, examples, and edge-case rules load only when the task demands them This matters because [[AI context is finite with diminishing returns]]. Stuffing everything into the prompt wastes tokens, increases hallucination risk, and degrades output quality. Progressive disclosure in AI context keeps the signal-to-noise ratio high by loading the right information at the right time. The [[Levels of AI Context Management]] framework implicitly relies on progressive disclosure: at higher maturity levels (L7-L8), skills and knowledge are modular and loaded on demand rather than statically embedded. Without progressive disclosure, scaling AI context leads to bloat, contradictions, and [[AI Context Rot]]. ## Key figures | Person | Contribution | | ----------------- | --------------------------------------- | | [[J.M. Carroll]] | Minimalist instruction, IBM research | | [[M.B. Rosson]] | Training wheels interface | | [[Jakob Nielsen]] | Popularized in UX, usability guidelines | | [[Don Norman]] | Design principles context | ## References - Nielsen, J. "Progressive Disclosure" (Nielsen Norman Group) - Carroll, J.M. & Rosson, M.B. (1987). "The Paradox of the Active User" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_disclosure ## Related - [[User Experience (UX)]] - [[Working Memory]] - [[Learnability]] - [[Onboarding]] - [[Information Architecture (IA)]] - [[Usability]] - [[Interaction Design (IxD)]] - [[Context Engineering]] - [[Prompt Lazy Loading AI Design Pattern (PLL)]] - [[Receptionist AI Design Pattern]] - [[AI context is finite with diminishing returns]] - [[Levels of AI Context Management]] - [[AI Context Rot]] - [[AI Agents]] - [[Types of Context for AI Agents]]