diff --git a/src/node/js/node-view.js b/src/node/js/node-view.js
index a854d963e45..b1c2d3eec8c 100644
--- a/src/node/js/node-view.js
+++ b/src/node/js/node-view.js
@@ -26,18 +26,23 @@ Y.mix(Y_Node.prototype, {
 
     /**
      * The implementation for showing nodes.
-     * Default is to toggle the style.display property.
+     * Default is to remove the hidden attribute.
      * @method _show
      * @protected
      * @chainable
      */
     _show: function() {
+        this.removeAttribute('hidden');
+
+        // For back-compat we need to leave this in for browsers that
+        // do not visually hide a node via the hidden attribute
+        // and for users that check visibility based on style display.
         this.setStyle('display', '');
 
     },
 
     _isHidden: function() {
-        return Y.DOM.getStyle(this._node, 'display') === 'none';
+        return Y.DOM.getAttribute(this._node, 'hidden') === 'true';
     },
 
     /**
@@ -96,12 +101,17 @@ Y.mix(Y_Node.prototype, {
 
     /**
      * The implementation for hiding nodes.
-     * Default is to toggle the style.display property.
+     * Default is to set the hidden attribute to true.
      * @method _hide
      * @protected
      * @chainable
      */
     _hide: function() {
+        this.setAttribute('hidden', true);
+
+        // For back-compat we need to leave this in for browsers that
+        // do not visually hide a node via the hidden attribute
+        // and for users that check visibility based on style display.
         this.setStyle('display', 'none');
     }
 });
@@ -145,4 +155,4 @@ Y.NodeList.importMethod(Y.Node.prototype, [
      * @chainable
      */
     'toggleView'
-]);
+]);
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