Hidden lines are depicted as which line style?

• A. Long dashed lines
• B. Medium-weight lines composed of short dashes that define edges and surfaces not visible
• C. Solid heavy lines
• D. Thin solid lines

Answer: (B)

In technical drawings, information about what isn’t visible is conveyed using a dashed line style. Hidden lines are shown with a medium-weight line made up of short dashes. This pattern signals to the viewer that the edge or surface exists but isn’t visible from the current viewpoint, helping you understand the full geometry without cluttering the drawing with solid edges. It contrasts with visible edges, which are drawn as solid, heavy lines. Other line styles serve different purposes—for example, centerlines use a distinct long-and-short-dash pattern, while dimension or projection lines are usually thin solid lines. The short-dashed, medium-weight style is specifically chosen to indicate occluded features clearly and consistently.