- Success Criterion 2.5.2
- Conformance level A
- W3C reference F101
Action That Fires the Instant the Pointer Goes Down
2.5.2 — Pointer Cancellation
Scenario
Setting
An online clothing store's product listing page
What’s wrong
The action fires the instant the mouse/finger goes DOWN — users can't slide off to cancel an accidental press.
Example
This shows up 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.
Why it matters
People with tremor or imprecise pointing who need to cancel a down-press. Here, on an online clothing store's product listing page, the result is they can't complete the task using a keyboard alone.
How to test
Press down on the control, then move the pointer away before releasing: the action should NOT fire until release — if it fires on mousedown/touchstart, it fails.
How to fix
Fire the action on the up-event (click), never on mousedown/touchstart.
Outcome
After the fix, the same visitor to an online clothing store's product listing page can now reach and operate the control without a mouse.
Who is affected
People with tremor or imprecise pointing who need to cancel a down-press.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
- Technique Related technique (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Button Firing on Touchstart Instead of Release
- Drag Interaction That Commits With No Way to Cancel
- Menu That Opens and Selects on the Same Press-and-Drag
- Destructive Action Firing on Press With No Way to Abort
- Press-to-Trigger Control Where Release Confirmation Was Possible
- Custom Gesture That Commits Mid-Motion Instead of on Release