swipe

Swipe is a term that denotes a swift sweeping motion along a surface, or the act of performing such a gesture. It functions as both noun and verb, and is used in everyday language to describe moving something with a single gliding motion, as well as in specialized domains such as technology and commerce. Etymology traces to sweep, with the sense of moving along a surface in a broad arc.

In technology and user interfaces, a swipe is a directional gesture made by sliding a finger or stylus across a touchscreen. It commonly triggers actions or navigates between items; examples include swiping left to dismiss or delete, swiping right to approve or favorite, and swiping down to refresh content. Modern devices and apps implement swipe as part of gesture-based interfaces, often affecting accessibility and usability considerations.

In commerce and security contexts, swipe refers to sliding a magnetic stripe card through a reader to communicate payment data. This usage persists in everyday language, though many regions have shifted toward chip-and-PIN or contactless methods. The term can also apply to slipping a card through a reader or similar equipment.

Other uses include informal speech for stealing something: to swipe an item means to take it without permission, though this sense is distinct from the geometric gesture.

See also: gesture, touchscreen, magnetic stripe, card reader.