touchgesture

Touch gesture is a method of user input on touch‑sensitive devices where the user performs a deliberate movement with a finger or stylus. The device’s input subsystem interprets the movement as a command to manipulate the user interface, content, or application state. These gestures leverage the device’s ability to detect multiple touch points and track their positions and movements in real time.

Common gestures include tap (short touch to select or activate), double-tap (two rapid taps to zoom or open), long press (hold to reveal a context menu or options), swipe (a rapid slide to navigate or dismiss), drag (move an item by touching and sliding), pinch (two fingers coming together to zoom out, opposite to spread to zoom in), rotate (two fingers rotate to rotate an object), and two- or three-finger gestures for scrolling or switching apps.

Implementation of touch gestures combines hardware and software. On modern devices, input relies on capacitive multi‑touch screens, paired with software recognition that maps movements to actions. Operating systems such as iOS and Android provide gesture grammars and APIs for developers. Web platforms implement gestures via standards like W3C Touch Events and Pointer Events, enabling consistent handling across browsers.

History and usage have evolved with mobile computing. Touch gestures gained prominence with multi‑touch screens in the late 2000s, notably after the release of the iPhone in 2007, and have since become common across smartphones, tablets, and other touch‑enabled devices.

Design considerations emphasize intuitiveness, discoverability, and consistency across apps, while offering accessible alternatives and clear feedback to users.