• Success Criterion 2.5.1
  • Conformance level A
  • W3C reference F105

Feature Requiring a Swipe Gesture With No Tap Alternative

2.5.1 — Pointer Gestures

Scenario

Setting

An online clothing store's product listing page

What’s wrong

A feature requires drawing a path/swipe gesture and offers no simple tap/click alternative.

Example

A tester reviewing an online clothing store's product listing page finds this: a feature requires drawing a path/swipe gesture and offers no simple tap/click alternative.

Why it matters

People with limited hand mobility and users of head-pointers, sticks, or eye-gaze systems. The practical effect on an online clothing store's product listing page: they lose track of where they are on the page.

How to test

Try to complete the path-based/multi-point gesture using a single tap or click instead: if no equivalent exists anywhere in the UI, it fails.

How to fix

Offer a single-pointer alternative (buttons, taps) for every path-based gesture.

Outcome

That one change on an online clothing store's product listing page means they reach and operate the control without a mouse, specifically for the “Feature Requiring a Swipe Gesture With No Tap Alternative” issue on an online clothing store's product listing page.

Who is affected

People with limited hand mobility and users of head-pointers, sticks, or eye-gaze systems.

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