2.5.1 Pointer Gestures
Level A · added in WCAG 2.1
Some features use a multipoint gesture, like a pinch, or a path-based gesture, like a swipe. They must also work with a single pointer and no path, such as a tap or click on a button.
Who it helps
People with tremors or limited hand movement may not be able to swipe accurately or use two fingers at once. People who use a head pointer, mouth stick or eye tracking can usually only point and click.
How to meet it
- Add zoom in and zoom out buttons to maps and image viewers that support pinch to zoom.
- Add previous and next buttons to carousels and galleries that respond to swipes.
- Give swipe-to-delete or swipe-to-archive lists a visible button or menu with the same action.
- Don't require drawing a shape, such as a custom unlock pattern, unless the path itself is essential, like a signature.
- This applies to gestures your code interprets, not to browser or operating system gestures like pinch to zoom the page.
Examples
<div class="carousel" aria-roledescription="carousel" aria-label="Featured products">
<!-- Slides change only on touch swipe events -->
<div class="slide">Slide 1 of 3</div>
</div><div class="carousel" aria-roledescription="carousel" aria-label="Featured products">
<button type="button" aria-label="Previous slide">‹</button>
<div class="slide">Slide 1 of 3</div>
<button type="button" aria-label="Next slide">›</button>
</div><div class="map" id="store-map"></div>
<div class="map-controls">
<button type="button">Zoom in</button>
<button type="button">Zoom out</button>
</div>Can a scanner detect this?
No
axe-core has no rule for this criterion, because it cannot tell what a gesture does or whether a button does the same thing. You need to list each gesture your interface supports and check that a single tap or click can do the same.
No automated rule tests this criterion. Check it by hand.
Common mistakes
- Supporting swipe on mobile and hiding the arrow buttons at small screen sizes.
- Offering a keyboard shortcut as the only alternative, when this criterion needs a single pointer alternative.
- Building a two-finger rotate or scroll in a canvas or 3D viewer with no buttons.
- Confusing this with dragging, which is covered by 2.5.7 when only the start and end points matter.
Related criteria
Check your own page
See which automated WCAG checks your page fails, with the failing elements and how to fix them.
Reviewed November 2, 2026