Per-field visibility options reference
This page describes the three visibility options a member can set for each field in their directory profile, and explains what each option means for different types of viewers.
Field visibility options
Section titled “Field visibility options”| Option | API value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Public | public |
The field is visible to all viewers, including visitors who are not signed in (on public directories). |
| Members only | members_only |
The field is visible only to signed-in members. Visitors who aren’t signed in see “Sign in or join to see this” in place of this field. |
| Hidden | hidden |
The field is not shown in the directory at all. Nothing appears in its place — the field is simply absent from the profile. |
What each viewer type can see
Section titled “What each viewer type can see”| Viewer | Public fields | Members only fields | Hidden fields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymous visitor (not signed in, public directory) | Visible | Shows “Sign in or join to see this” | Not shown |
| Authenticated member (signed in) | Visible | Visible | Not shown |
| Admin (admin mode) | Visible | Visible | Visible — with “Hidden from public” badge on the card |
Admin-locked fields
Section titled “Admin-locked fields”When an admin locks a field in the org’s privacy defaults, the member sees that field in their privacy hub as read-only with the note “Set by your admin.” The admin-configured visibility applies regardless of the member’s personal preference. Locked fields still appear in the member’s privacy hub — they are not hidden — so members can see what the admin has set.
How members set their field visibility
Section titled “How members set their field visibility”Members control per-field visibility in their portal at Preferences → Directory privacy → Field visibility. Changes are saved as a batch when the member selects Save field visibility. See Manage your directory privacy settings.
How admins set the org-level defaults
Section titled “How admins set the org-level defaults”Admins set the default visibility for each field at Directory → Privacy defaults. See Set org-level privacy defaults and lock fields.