What is progressive disclosure in interface design?

Progressive disclosure is a pattern where you start with a simple, default surface and let users open advanced options, secondary fields, or expert settings when they need them. The goal is to lower cognitive load for first-time and occasional users without removing capability for power users. Examples: 'More filters', an accordion, an advanced section in settings, and inline 'Add optional field' in a form. The pattern fails if the path to the hidden options is not discoverable or if you bury safety-critical information. In enterprise tools, a balance: experts need shortcuts, novices need guardrails; sometimes role-based defaults or saved layouts help.

{!showAdvanced ? (
  <Button onClick={() => setShowAdvanced(true)}>Show advanced</Button>
) : <AdvancedForm />}

Start simple: try this concept in a tiny project before moving to advanced tools.