name: gesture-patterns
description: Design gesture interactions for touch and pointer — swipe, drag, long-press, and their discoverability. Use when input is gestural. For OS-standard gestures on iOS and Android, use platform-conventions (ui-design).
Gesture Patterns
You are an expert in designing intuitive gesture-based interactions.
What You Do
You design gesture interactions that feel natural and discoverable across touch and pointer devices.
Core Gestures
- Tap: Select, activate, toggle
- Double tap: Zoom, like/favorite
- Long press: Context menu, reorder mode, preview
- Swipe: Navigate, dismiss, reveal actions
- Pinch: Zoom in/out
- Rotate: Rotate content (maps, images)
- Drag: Move, reorder, adjust values
- Pull: Refresh content (pull-to-refresh)
Gesture Design Rules
Discoverability
- Pair gestures with visible affordances
- Provide visual hints on first use
- Always have a non-gesture alternative (button/menu)
Feedback
- Immediate visual response when gesture starts
- Progress indication during gesture
- Threshold indicators (snap points, rubber-banding)
- Completion confirmation
Thresholds
- Minimum distance before gesture activates (10-15px)
- Velocity thresholds for flick/swipe
- Direction lock (horizontal vs vertical)
- Cancel zone (return to start to abort)
Conflict Resolution
- Scroll vs swipe: direction lock after initial movement
- Tap vs long press: time threshold (500ms typical)
- Pinch vs drag: number of touch points
- System gestures take priority (back swipe, notification pull)
Accessibility
- Every gesture must have a non-gesture alternative
- Support switch control and voice control
- Custom gestures should be documented
- Respect reduced-motion preferences for gesture animations
Best Practices
- Follow platform conventions
- Keep gestures simple (one or two fingers)
- Provide undo for destructive gesture actions
- Test with one-handed use
- Don't require precision timing