Multigesture

Multigesture is a class of input gestures that require the involvement of more than one finger or hand to perform on a touch-sensitive or motion-controlled interface. Multigesture recognition enables complex interactions such as zooming, rotating, and precise panning, which are not easily accomplished with a single touch point.

Common examples include pinch-to-zoom (two-finger scaling), two-finger rotate (rotation around a center point), two-finger scroll or pan, and three- or four-finger swipes or taps used for navigation, window management, or switching apps on some platforms. The set of supported multigestures varies by device and software platform.

Implementation involves sensing multiple touch points and interpreting their trajectories with gesture recognizers or pattern-detection algorithms. Modern operating systems provide framework APIs for multigesture handling (for example, pinch, rotate, and pan recognizers on mobile platforms; two-finger scrolling on trackpads; customizable gestures in some desktop environments). Hardware aspects include capacitive or optical touch sensors that can detect several simultaneous contact points.

Design considerations include consistency across apps and platforms, discoverability, and performance. Because multigestures may be challenging for users with limited dexterity, many interfaces also offer alternative controls such as on-screen buttons or keyboard shortcuts. Multigesture remains a foundational element of modern touch and trackpad interfaces.