• Success Criterion 2.5.2
  • Conformance level A

2.5.2 · Pointer Cancellation

Lesson overview · Pointer Cancellation

In plain language

Actions must fire when the press is RELEASED, so users can slide off to cancel.

Who it affects

People with tremor or imprecise pointing who need to cancel a down-press.

How to check

Press a control, slide your finger/pointer off it, then release: the action must not fire. Worked example — A bank's mobile money-transfer screen: press down on a menu item and check whether it's already selected before you release: press-drag-release combos that select on down-press without requiring the up-event fail.

Common misconception

Making a button feel “responsive” by firing on touchstart instead of the click event actually breaks this rule, since users lose the ability to slide their finger away and cancel an accidental press. Real example: on an online clothing store's product listing page, the action fires the instant the mouse/finger goes DOWN — users can't slide off to cancel an accidental press.

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Scenarios in this lesson