How To Hide The Turtle In Python Turtle Graphics?

When I first started using Python’s Turtle module, I quickly realized how useful and fun it is for creating visual art and animations. But one thing that often comes up is the need to hide the turtle cursor itself. Whether you’re drawing complex shapes or creating smooth animations, sometimes the turtle icon can be distracting or unnecessary.

In this article, I’ll share my firsthand experience on how to hide the turtle in Python Turtle graphics. I’ll walk you through the simplest ways to do it, so your drawings look clean and professional. If you’re working on projects that involve animations or just want to polish your turtle graphics, this guide will help you get there quickly.

Table of Contents

Methods to Hide the Turtle in Python Turtle Graphics

Now, I will explain to you how to hide the turtle in Python turtle graphics.

1: Use the hideturtle() Meth

The easiest and most direct way to hide the turtle is by using the built-in `hideturtle()` method in Python. This method immediately makes the turtle cursor invisible but keeps the drawing functionality active.

Here’s a quick example:

import turtle

# Create a turtle screen and a turtle object
screen = turtle.Screen()
t = turtle.Turtle()

# Draw a square
for _ in range(4):
    t.forward(100)
    t.right(90)

# Hide the turtle cursor
t.hideturtle()

# Keep the window open until clicked
screen.exitonclick()

You can refer to the screenshot below to see the output.

In this example, after drawing the square, the turtle itself disappears, leaving only the shape visible.

Read Python Clear Turtle

2: Use the penup() and hideturtle() Combination

Sometimes, you want to move the turtle without drawing and also hide it simultaneously. Combining penup() with hideturtle() is a handy way to do this.

Example:

import turtle

t = turtle.Turtle()

# Lift the pen so it doesn't draw
t.penup()

# Move to a new location
t.goto(50, 50)

# Hide the turtle cursor
t.hideturtle()

# Put the pen down to start drawing again
t.pendown()

# Draw a circle
t.circle(40)

turtle.done()

You can refer to the screenshot below to see the output.

This approach is useful when you want to reposition the turtle invisibly before starting a new drawing.

Check out Fractal Python Turtle

3: Control Visibility During Animation

When creating animations, you might want the turtle hidden during the drawing process and then shown again at the end (or vice versa). You can toggle visibility anytime using hideturtle() and showturtle() in Python.

Example:

import turtle
import time

t = turtle.Turtle()

# Hide turtle before animation
t.hideturtle()

# Draw a spiral
for i in range(50):
    t.forward(i * 5)
    t.right(45)

# Show turtle after drawing
t.showturtle()

time.sleep(2)
turtle.done()

You can refer to the screenshot below to see the output.

This method gives you full control over when the turtle is visible, which is great for polished animations.

Read Python Turtle Get Position

Additional Tips for Using Turtle Graphics in the USA Context

When teaching or demonstrating Python Turtle in the USA, I often use examples like drawing the American flag’s stars or simple icons representing US landmarks. Hiding the turtle cursor during these drawings helps keep the focus on the shapes and colors.

For instance, after plotting the stars on the flag, I hide the turtle to let the viewer admire the result without distraction.

Hiding the turtle cursor is a small but useful way to enhance your Python Turtle graphics projects. Whether you’re creating educational content, animations, or just experimenting, these methods help you keep your visuals clean and professional.

Python’s hideturtle() method is my go-to for quick hiding, but combining it with other turtle methods like penup() or toggling visibility during animations gives you a lot of flexibility.