# .show()

Categories: Effects > Basics

## .show( ) Returns: jQuery

Description: Display the matched elements.

- #### version added: 1.0.show()

- #### version added: 1.0.show( duration [, callback] )

  durationA string or number determining how long the animation will run.

  callbackA function to call once the animation is complete.

- #### version added: 1.4.3.show( [duration] [, easing] [, callback] )

  durationA string or number determining how long the animation will run.

  easingA string indicating which easing function to use for the transition.

  callbackA function to call once the animation is complete.

With no parameters, the `.show()` method is the simplest way to display an element:

    $('.target').show();

The matched elements will be revealed immediately, with no animation. This is roughly equivalent to calling `.css('display', 'block')`, except that the `display` property is restored to whatever it was initially. If an element has a `display` value of `inline`, then is hidden and shown, it will once again be displayed `inline`.

Note: If using !important in your styles, such as `display: none !important`, it is necessary to override the style using `.css('display', 'block !important')` should you wish for `.show()` to function correctly.

When a duration is provided, `.show()` becomes an animation method. The `.show()` method animates the width, height, and opacity of the matched elements simultaneously.

Durations are given in milliseconds; higher values indicate slower animations, not faster ones. The strings `'fast'` and `'slow'` can be supplied to indicate durations of `200` and `600` milliseconds, respectively.

As of jQuery 1.4.3, an optional string naming an easing function may be used. Easing functions specify the speed at which the animation progresses at different points within the animation. The only easing implementations in the jQuery library are the default, called `swing`, and one that progresses at a constant pace, called `linear`. More easing functions are available with the use of plug-ins, most notably the jQuery UI suite.

If supplied, the callback is fired once the animation is complete. This can be useful for stringing different animations together in sequence. The callback is not sent any arguments, but `this` is set to the DOM element being animated. If multiple elements are animated, it is important to note that the callback is executed once per matched element, not once for the animation as a whole.

We can animate any element, such as a simple image:

    <div id="clickme">
      Click here
    </div>
    <img id="book" src="book.png" alt="" width="100" height="123" />
    With the element initially hidden, we can show it slowly:
    $('#clickme').click(function() {
      $('#book').show('slow', function() {
        // Animation complete.
      });
    });

### Additional Notes:

- All jQuery effects, including `.show()`, can be turned off globally by setting `jQuery.fx.off = true`, which effectively sets the duration to 0. For more information, see jQuery.fx.off.

### Examples:

#### Example: Animates all hidden paragraphs to show slowly, completing the animation within 600 milliseconds.

    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
      <style>
          p { background:yellow; }
          </style>
      <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.7rc2.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>
      <button>Show it</button>

          <p style="display: none">Hello  2</p>
    <script>
        $("button").click(function () {
        $("p").show("slow");
        });
        </script>

    </body>
    </html>

#### Demo:

#### Example: Animates all hidden divs to show fastly in order, completing each animation within 200 milliseconds. Once each animation is done, it starts the next one.

    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
      <style>
      div { background:#def3ca; margin:3px; width:80px;
      display:none; float:left; text-align:center; }
      </style>
      <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.7rc2.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>

      <button id="showr">Show</button>
      <button id="hidr">Hide</button>
      <div>Hello 3,</div>

      <div>how</div>
      <div>are</div>
      <div>you?</div>
    <script>
    $("#showr").click(function () {
      $("div:eq(0)").show("fast", function () {
        /* use callee so don't have to name the function */
        $(this).next("div").show("fast", arguments.callee);
      });
    });
    $("#hidr").click(function () {
      $("div").hide(2000);
    });

    </script>

    </body>
    </html>

#### Demo:

#### Example: Shows all span and input elements with an animation. Once the animation is done, it changes the text.

    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
      <style>
      span { display:none; }
      div { display:none; }
      p { font-weight:bold; background-color:#fcd; }
      </style>
      <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.7rc2.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>
      <button>Do it!</button>
      <span>Are you sure? (type 'yes' if you are) </span>
      <div>
        <form>
          <input type="text"  value="as;ldkfjalsdf"/>
        </form>
      </div>
      <p style="display:none;">I'm hidden...</p>

    <script>
    function doIt() {
      $("span,div").show("slow");
    }
    /* can pass in function name */
    $("button").click(doIt);

    $("form").submit(function () {
      if ($("input").val() == "yes") {
        $("p").show(4000, function () {
          $(this).text("Ok, DONE! (now showing)");
        });
      }
      $("span,div").hide("fast");
      /* to stop the submit */
      return false;
    });
    </script>

    </body>
    </html>

#### Demo: