Doubleclicking

Double-clicking is the action of pressing a pointing device’s primary button twice in quick succession on a computer interface. The effect depends on the context and the program, but it is most commonly used to activate or open the item that was clicked.

Timing and configuration: The allowed interval between the two clicks is called the double-click speed or double-click time. It is set by the operating system or the application and is adjustable by users. On many desktop systems the default interval is a few hundred milliseconds (roughly 400–500 ms); if the second click occurs outside this interval, the input is treated as two single clicks.

Common actions: In file managers and desktop environments, double-clicking a file or folder usually opens it or launches it. In text-related interfaces, double-clicking typically selects the word under the cursor, while triple-clicking selects the entire paragraph or line depending on the program.

Variants and accessibility: On touch devices, double-tapping serves a similar purpose for opening items or zooming, depending on the app. Some users have difficulty with rapid clicking; settings to adjust speed or alternative input methods (keyboard shortcuts, accessibility features) can mitigate this. Different platforms may interpret double-clicks differently, so behavior can vary between operating systems and software environments.