This template's initial visibility currently defaults to

1. REDIRECT Template:Parameter value

__EXPECTSHORTPAGE__, meaning that if there is another collapsible item on the page (a navbox, sidebar, or table with the collapsible attribute), it is hidden apart from its title bar; if not, it is fully visible.

To change this template's initial visibility, the <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|state= parameter may be used:

• <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="1">{{Émile Zola|state=collapsed}}</syntaxhighlight> will show the template collapsed, i.e. hidden apart from its title bar.
• <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="1">{{Émile Zola|state=expanded}}</syntaxhighlight> will show the template expanded, i.e. fully visible.