WP-ShowHide

What is WP-ShowHide?

WP-ShowHide is a focused content plugin that lets you hide text behind a clickable toggle. It was created by veteran developer Lester Chan and has been available on WordPress.org for 15 years. The plugin currently has 10K+ active installs and holds a 4.2/5 rating from 43 reviews, with 70% of those being five-star ratings. The current version is 1.06 and it was last updated on Nov 28, 2025.

The plugin works by wrapping content inside a shortcode. By default, that content stays hidden until a visitor clicks a "Show Content" link. This makes it simple to hide content wordpress style without editing theme files. The developer modeled the behavior after Engadget's press release toggles. You can use it for any type of hidden text, from spoilers to extra notes.

Key Features of WP-ShowHide

• Shortcode-Based Toggle — Wrap any content in [showhide] to create a clickable show/hide block without touching PHP.
• Custom Type Labels — Use the type parameter (e.g., type="pressrelease") to create multiple independent toggle groups on the same post.
• Dynamic Word Count — The more_text and less_text attributes automatically insert the word count of your hidden content using %s as a placeholder.
• Default Visibility Control — Set hidden="no" in the shortcode to show content by default, giving users a way to collapse it instead.
• CSS Styling Hooks — The plugin generates clean HTML with classes like .sh-link, .sh-content, and type-specific selectors for custom theming.
• Multiple Instances Per Page — Each unique type value creates a separate toggle, so you can show hide text wordpress in several places without conflicts.
• Lightweight Codebase — At version 1.06 and requiring only WordPress 3.0+, the plugin adds minimal overhead to your site.
• Open Source on GitHub — The full source code is available for review and contributions at the developer's GitHub repository.

Who Should Use WP-ShowHide?

This plugin suits beginners who want to know how to hide and show content in wordpress without learning JavaScript. Anyone who can paste a shortcode into the editor can use it. The plugin requires zero configuration after activation. It works on any WordPress site running version 1.06 or higher, which covers virtually all modern installations.

The ideal use case is for sites that publish long press releases, spoiler-heavy reviews, or content with optional reading sections. Bloggers who need a show hide button wordpress post to keep pages tidy will find this useful. The 12% one-star rating suggests some users hit limitations, but the 70% five-star rate indicates it solves the core need well for most. With 10K+ active installs after 15 years, it fills a specific niche without trying to be everything.

Installation & Setup

Install WP-ShowHide from the WordPress plugin directory like any other plugin. Activate it and you can immediately use the [showhide] shortcode in posts, pages, or widgets. The plugin adds no menu items or settings screens. To toggle content visibility wordpress shortcode style, just paste your hidden text between the opening and closing tags. Beginners will have this running in under two minutes.

Support & Community

The support forum shows 0 open threads and 0 resolved threads over the last two months, giving a 0% resolution rate. This likely reflects the plugin's simplicity rather than neglect. Most questions are answered by the shortcode's built-in parameters. The 12% one-star ratings often cite missing features like animation options or nested shortcode support. The developer has kept the plugin stable at version 1.06 for a long period, last updating it on Nov 28, 2025. Donations are accepted but not required, as stated in the plugin description.