Hidden Attribute (HTML5) vs. display:none (CSS): When Should You Use Each?

Hidden Attribute (HTML5) vs. display:none Rule (CSS): Semantic and Computational Differences

Web developers often face the dilemma of choosing between the hidden attribute in HTML5 and the display:none rule in CSS for hiding content. While visually indistinguishable, these approaches differ semantically and computationally.

Semantic Differences

The hidden attribute explicitly indicates that the content should not be visible to the user, regardless of the presentation. This means it will be hidden not only from browsers but also from screen readers and other assistive technologies.

On the other hand, display:none is presentation-dependent. It only hides content from browsers but leaves it accessible to screen readers and other tools. This can be problematic for users who rely on these technologies to access content.

Computational Differences

The hidden attribute immediately renders the element invisible, making it computationally efficient. In contrast, display:none delays content hiding until the browser's rendering engine executes the CSS rules, which can slow down page loading.

When to Use One or the Other

To avoid accessibility issues, use the hidden attribute when you need to permanently hide content from all presentations. This includes situations where the content might not make sense in a different presentation (e.g., an article hidden on a mobile view).

Use display:none when you want to hide content temporarily or based on specific conditions (e.g., hiding a form section when a certain input is disabled). This allows you to maintain accessibility and control content visibility dynamically.

Note:

As mentioned in the provided source, the hidden attribute has faced controversy and may have minimal practical difference when targeting only web browsers. However, it still serves as a valuable semantic indicator for accessibility and is recommended for use in scenarios where accessibility is paramount.

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