2.5.1 Pointer Gestures
Official description of the success criterion
All functionality that uses multipoint or path-based gestures for operation can be operated with a single pointer without a path-based gesture, unless a multipoint or path-based gesture is essential.
What to do?
Ensure functionality triggered by multipoint or path-based gestures can also be operated with a single pointer.
Why is it important?
Supports users who cannot perform complex gestures such as swiping, dragging or drawing complex paths on a screen.
Common pitfalls
Examples of mistakes where an alternative might have been forgotten:
- Dragging motion in a UI.
- Pinching motion in zooming a map or an image.
How to test for it?
Check if there is content that requires complex gestures, such as double clicks, long presses, pinching or swiping with multiple fingers.
This doesn't apply to features that control the user agent or assistive technology.
How to take this criterion into account in design?
If you design features that require complex gestures, ensure that you design a single-pointer alternative! You aren't forbidden to have complex gestures in use, but they must have alternatives.