Progressive Disclosure Template

Start with the primary [job to be done](/glossary/jobs-to-be-done-jtbd). Layer 1 should contain only what a user needs to complete their most common task on the first visit. If your analytics product's primary job is "check how my key metrics are trending," Layer 1 needs metric cards, a trend chart, and a date picker. Everything else belongs in Layer 2 or deeper. Validate with data: look at feature usage frequency. Features used by fewer than 30% of users weekly are strong candidates for Layer 2. Features used by fewer than 10% belong in Layer 3.

This is common and usually solvable. Three approaches: add a "pro mode" toggle that remembers the user's preference and shows all features by default for users who enable it. Add keyboard shortcuts that jump directly to advanced features (power users love keyboard shortcuts). Add a command palette (Cmd+K) that lets anyone search for any feature by name. The goal is not to hide features from power users. It is to ensure new users are not overwhelmed while giving power users fast paths to what they need.

Mobile has less screen space, which makes progressive disclosure more important. The patterns shift: instead of hover-to-reveal (impossible on touch screens), use tap-to-expand, bottom sheets, and contextual action menus. Swipe gestures can reveal secondary actions on list items. The principle is the same: Layer 1 fills the screen with the primary task, and deeper layers are accessible through deliberate taps. The [PLG Handbook](/plg-guide) covers mobile-first activation patterns that align with progressive disclosure principles.

Yes. Progressive onboarding (unlocking features as the user advances) is one of the most effective activation patterns. Show the user 2-3 core actions first. Once they complete those, introduce the next set. This prevents the "feature overload" problem where new users see 20 features and engage with none. Track [activation rate](/glossary/activation-rate) for users in progressive onboarding vs. those who see everything at once. The progressive cohort almost always activates at higher rates. ---