# Progressive Disclosure

> Loading agent context in stages - names and descriptions first, full bodies when relevant, linked files only as needed - so bundled context is effectively unbounded.

- Category: Context & Memory
- Stage: Rising
- Also called: Just-in-time context loading
- Canonical: https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/progressive-disclosure

## Plain English

Show the model the table of contents, and hand it the chapter only when it asks.

## Example

A pdf skill ships as a name plus one-line description; when the user asks to fill a form, the agent reads the SKILL.md, and only then the referenced forms.md with field-level instructions.

## Why it matters

It is the design principle underpinning Agent Skills, code mode, and tool search: stop asking 'will it fit in the window' and start asking 'what does the model need to see now'.

## Related

- [Agent Skill](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/agent-skill)
- [Context Engineering](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/context-engineering)
- [Compaction](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/compaction)

## Sources

- [Anthropic: Agent Skills](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/equipping-agents-for-the-real-world-with-agent-skills)