Hide (block)

Hide
hide
Category	Looks
Type	Stack

The Hide block is a Looks block and a stack block. If the block's sprite is shown, it will hide the sprite — if the sprite is already hidden, nothing happens. This block is one of the most commonly used Looks blocks.^{[citation needed]} A hidden sprite cannot be touched.

Example Uses

This block is widely used, mainly in preparing scenes and such for a Scratch project. Some common uses are:

• Preparing a scene

when gf clicked
hide
switch costume to (ghost v)
set [ghost v] effect to (100)

when I receive [haunted v]
show
repeat (20)
change [ghost v] effect by (-5)
end

• Hiding a sprite in front of an object to reveal it

when gf clicked
go to [front v] layer
hide

when I receive [chest opened v]
show
say [You found me!] for (2) secs

• Hiding a projectile once it hits something

when I receive [Shoot! v]
show
point in direction [mouse pointer v]
repeat until <touching (edge v)?>
  move (8) steps
end
hide

• Animation scripts

when this sprite clicked
switch costume to (empty-handed v)
say [Hello and welcome to the morning news!] for (3) secs
say [Oh wait, I forgot something backstage. I'll be back in a sec!] for (4) secs
hide
wait (2) secs
show
switch costume to (coffee v)
say [Got my coffee! Now, where were we again?] for (2) secs

• Hiding everything but a menu or an intro at the start of a project.

when gf clicked
hide

when I receive [start game v]
show

Workaround

Main article: List of Block Workarounds

This block can be replicated with the following code:

set [ghost v] effect to (100)

However, this does not completely work, as it can still be sensed. Also, it reappears when the project is stopped or restarted. The hide block prevents the When this sprite clicked from activating but using ghost effects does not.

If the workaround is used, the Show block will not work. The ghost effect must then be set to 0.

Also, sprites cannot evaluate some scripts such as say and think while in hide mode, however, they can using the ghost effect. The Ask () and Wait block behaves differently on hidden sprites, the prompt is included in the ask bar.

Another workaround is switching the costume to a blank one.

switch costume to (blank costume v)

Misconceptions

A misconception is that hidden sprites will still be detected using the touching blocks. Hidden sprites will not be detected. A workaround that allows detection is to set the sprite's ghost effect to 100 or by using the "clear graphic effect" block.

See Also

• Hide All Sprites
• Show