Some HTML attributes allow a short list of values rather than any free-form text. The hidden attribute is one of them. Choosing the right value helps the browser know how to handle your content.
Available values
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
hidden | Keep content out of normal rendering and discovery |
until-found | Keep it hidden until find-in-page or fragment navigation reveals it |
A page example
<p hidden>This draft is not ready to show.</p>
<section hidden="until-found">
<h2>Archived answer</h2>
<p>This paragraph can be found with browser search.</p>
</section>What each choice changes
Read the HTML one element at a time. Find the hidden value and compare it with the table. These are behavior or presentation hints, not ordinary words displayed on the page.
A hidden section is not confidential. Visitors can read the HTML source, and until-found has special reveal behavior.
How to choose
Choose the simplest value that matches what your page needs. Test in a current browser, and consider keyboard use and accessibility if this attribute affects what users can reach or edit.
Practice
Copy the example and try another allowed value. After each change, refresh the page and inspect both what is visible and what is available to keyboard and screen-reader users.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- A hidden section is not confidential. Visitors can read the HTML source, and until-found has special reveal behavior.
- Making up an attribute value and assuming the browser understands it.
- Confusing visible formatting with a control that genuinely changes behavior.
Key Takeaways
hiddensupports the documented values shown above.- A hidden section is not confidential. Visitors can read the HTML source, and until-found has special reveal behavior.
- Test the result in the browser rather than judging only from the source.