clickanddrag

Click and drag, often written as click-and-drag, is a graphical user interaction in which the user presses a pointing device button on an object, holds it down, moves the cursor to another location, and releases. It enables moving, reordering, or transferring items beyond simple clicking.

In a typical drag-and-drop operation, the system records a drag start when the user begins to move after a press, tracks movement, and completes with a drop at a destination. A drag image or cursor often provides visual feedback, and movement typically exceeds a small threshold to avoid accidental drags.

Common uses include moving files and items on desktop environments, rearranging items in lists or dashboards, selecting multiple objects by drawing a selection rectangle, and transferring content between applications through drag-and-drop.

History and standards: Drag-and-drop emerged in early graphical user interfaces and was popularized by desktop operating systems in the 1980s and 1990s. The web supports a drag-and-drop API based on events such as dragstart, dragover, and drop, enabling cross-application interactions.

Accessibility considerations include providing keyboard alternatives and meaningful non-visual feedback. Drag-and-drop can be challenging for assistive technologies, so interfaces should offer alternative actions and ensure focus management, clear instructions, and compatible ARIA roles or attributes where appropriate.

Implementation notes: On the web, developers typically use HTML5 drag-and-drop events or libraries that abstract them. Desktop and mobile platforms rely on their native drag-and-drop facilities and may differ in behavior, performance, and drop target feedback.