Functionality operated with a single pointer must: Not fire on the down event, fire on the up-event along with a way to abort or undo, reverse the function on the up-event, or completing the function on the down event is essential.
| WGAC 2 criterion | 2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation (A) |
|---|---|
| Category | Interaction |
| ACT Rules |
WCAG 2 criterion
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation (Level A)
Tools and requirements
- Manual Assessment
- Mouse or Touchscreen interaction
Test procedure
When testing any functionality with a cursor or tap gesture, ensure that at least one of the following criteria is met.
- The function must not fire at all on the "down" event. It would fire only when the mouse click is released or a touch is released. This implies that functions like drag and drop, which start on the down event are not considered.
- A function begins on the down event but finishes on the up event, there needs to be a way to cancel or undo the function before completion. A drag-and-drop function would fall under this category.
- A function that starts on the down event is canceled on the up event.
- A function must fire on the down-event, such as when emulating keyboards or keypads. Interacting with most web functions like buttons, links, and form inputs are never cases that must fire on the down event.