Design Principle
Swipe, pinch, and long press cannot be the only way to complete a task.
Principle
Swipe, pinch, and long press cannot be the only way to complete a task.
Design action
Provide visible buttons, menus, or steppers for complex gestures; risky swipe actions need undo or confirmation.
Examples
Positive example: Mobile lists, image viewers, maps, boards, and editors use gestures for efficiency. Counterexample: Delete is available only through swipe.
Apply when
Mobile lists, image viewers, maps, boards, and editors use gestures for efficiency. Users need to judge state, scope, risk, or next action quickly.
Source notes
Source note: Synthesized from Apple HIG, Material Design, GOV.UK/Polaris/Atlassian component practices, and interaction accessibility principles. Apple HIG Motion: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/motion Material Design Motion: https://m3.material.io/styles/motion/overview/how-it-works GOV.UK Design System Patterns: https://design-system.service.gov.uk/patterns/ Shopify Polaris Patterns: https://polaris-react.shopify.com/patterns Atlassian Empty State: https://atlassian.design/components/empty-state
Agent Directive
Provide visible buttons, menus, or steppers for complex gestures; risky swipe actions need undo or confirmation.