Word "hidden" appears in code

[jacobwissler]

I just had a site built for a client http://www.lonestarofficial.com/ and I notice that the web designer has used the word "hidden" in the code, many times. Input type = "hidden" Can someone take a look at this, and tell me if this is something that will get the site banned, something I need to change?

[jdiben]

Those are hidden form fields. It is common and safe to use hidden form fields to pass data from a form. It's usually done when you have data that you need to send with the form such as a product id but you don't want the user to see or more importantly change the fields value.

[brian.mark]

Excellent response, jdiben.

The only thing I might add is that I have seen some people use hidden fields for keyword stuffing (not in this example, but I've seen it) since field contents can and do get indexed. The boost that those sites have seen hasn't ever lasted long, and some are now banned.

The use on the page you mentioned looks totally legitimate as values passed in for shopping cart functions through PayPal. Very simple to edit and pass incorrect values when it's done this way, but that's why you have the option of refusing an order.

Brian.

[jacobwissler]

Is there any way to add sales tax for Texas orders in the PayPal shopping cart?

[brian.mark]

You have to configure that in your PayPal account. It's not very robust last time I looked - it just added a flat amount on a state by state basis - but it had that option based upon the shipping address in there.

From their help file:

To view and/or modify your sales tax and shipping charges:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click the Profile subtab of the My Account tab.
3. Click the Sales Tax or the Shipping Calculation link in the Selling Preferences column.

Brian.