SharePoint: Hide or Show Form Columns Using Content Types and JSON

Overview

When you need to conditionally hide or show fields in a SharePoint list or library form, there are two common approaches: enable content types or use JSON form customization. This post explains both and shows the visibility expression used in SharePoint.

Option 1: Enable content types

Enabling content types on a list or library gives you built-in controls for:

  • showing or hiding fields
  • reordering columns
  • managing form layout per content type

This is a good fit when your list or library uses multiple content types and you want form behavior to vary by type.

Content Type Field

Option 2: Use JSON form customization

If you want to apply conditional visibility directly in the form, use JSON customization.

Steps

  1. Open the target list or library.
  2. For a list: open an item and view the item details form.
  3. For a document library: select a file and open the information pane.
  4. In the pane, choose Edit all.
  5. At the top of the form, select Edit form > Edit columns.

Edit Panel

Example visibility rule

Use a JSON visibility expression like this:

=if([$FolderType] == 'Other', 'false', 'true')

This expression hides the field when FolderType is Other and shows it otherwise.

Example result

When any value from other is selected.

Employee Details

When ‘Other’ is selected

Folder Name

References