# How does conditional visibility work in Adalo?

Show or hide components based on user data, record values, inputs, dates, and other conditions—and debug the common gotchas.

- Canonical URL: https://adalocado.com/answers/conditional-visibility
- Verification: Verified from current public evidence
- Topic: Conditional Visibility
- Skill level: Beginner
- Last reviewed: 2026-08-12
- Index status: index-now

## Short answer

Select the component, open its More menu, choose Change Visibility, set it to Sometimes Visible, and define the condition. The component appears only when that condition evaluates to true.

Conditional visibility evaluates one accessible value and shows the component when the expression is true. Use the smallest component that needs to change, test both sides with deliberate sample data, and verify layout reflow. Hiding a button does not secure an action or record; sensitive behavior still needs appropriate product and backend safeguards.

## Intended outcome

A component whose visibility follows one clear, testable rule without breaking the surrounding layout.

## Requirements

- A component to control
- A data or component value to evaluate
- Sample records for both true and false states

## Step by step

1. **Select one component**

   Start with the smallest element whose visibility should change. Grouped components can hide more than intended.

2. **Open visibility settings**

   Open the component’s More menu, choose Change Visibility, and switch from Always Visible to Sometimes Visible.

3. **Choose the available value**

   Select a value the component can actually access: logged-in user data, current record data, or another component’s input.

4. **Define one condition**

   Choose the operator that matches the property type and define the value that makes the component visible.

5. **Test both sides**

   Preview once with the condition true and once with it false. Confirm both behavior and layout reflow.

## Why it works

- Conditions are boolean: the expression is either true or false.
- Visibility does not filter data; it controls one component’s presence.
- Adalo lays screens out top-to-bottom, so hidden elements can affect how later components occupy space.

## Data model

| Collection | Properties | Relationships |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Users | Role, Onboarding Complete | Relates to the records the user may operate |
| Items | Status, Published | Belongs to an owner |

## Common failures

### The condition never becomes true

Confirm the property type, exact value, and whether the component has access to the record you selected.

### Empty behaves differently than zero

Treat Empty as no value and 0 as a real number. Test them separately.

### The layout jumps when the component hides

Review neighboring groups and component alignment; intentional paired states should occupy compatible positions.

## Testing checklist

- [ ] One sample record makes the condition true and visibly reveals the component.
- [ ] A second record makes the condition false without leaving an unusable layout gap.
- [ ] Empty, zero, false, and missing relationship states are tested separately.
- [ ] The condition uses accessible data
- [ ] True and false records are tested
- [ ] Empty and zero are distinguished
- [ ] Hidden layout remains usable
- [ ] Sensitive actions also enforce appropriate action logic

## Limitations

- Visibility is presentation logic and must not be treated as authorization or data security.

## Community evidence

### [How to make a list say none if there are no items in it](https://forum.adalo.com/t/how-to-make-a-list-say-none-if-there-are-no-items-in-it/57003)

Forum replies describe using Sometimes Visible with a list count and also point to the simple list empty-state feature. Boundary: Replies disagree about where some list-count options appear, so exact menu availability can vary by component.

## Sources

- [Adalo component visibility](https://help.adalo.com/component-basics/changing-a-components-visibility)
- [Adalo conditions and filtering](https://help.adalo.com/component-basics/conditions-and-filtering)
- [Adalo forum: list empty state and visibility](https://forum.adalo.com/t/how-to-make-a-list-say-none-if-there-are-no-items-in-it/57003)

Markdown version: https://adalocado.com/answers/conditional-visibility.md