Nondisplaying

Nondisplaying is a term used to describe content, data, or interface elements that exist within a system but are not presented to the viewer. It highlights a separation between what is stored or generated and what is visible or accessible in a given context. The concept is widely used in computing, publishing, and data governance.

In computing, nondisplayed elements can be present in the document object model but hidden from rendering by the user agent. Common techniques include CSS properties such as display: none or visibility: hidden, or off‑screen positioning and dynamic toggling by scripts. Nondisplayed content may still be accessible to scripts and, depending on implementation, to assistive technologies. Designers use nondisplay to support features like progressive disclosure, responsive layouts, or optional settings.

In security and privacy contexts, nondisplay describes data that is stored or processed but not shown to end users. Access controls and redaction are used to ensure that only authorized individuals can view particular fields, while the underlying data remains in the system for auditing or processing.

In publishing and digital archives, some material is nondisplayed due to licensing, copyright, or sensitivity, and is kept stored but not shown to the public.

See also: display (CSS), hidden content, progressive disclosure, redaction, access control, accessibility.