Synonyms: Use of the mouse, use of the touch pad, use of the pen, pointing device operation, pointer operation

See also: Use of the keyboard

The use of the pointing device encompasses all the operational modalities with a pointing device, e.g.

  • Mouse,
  • Graphics tablet,
  • Touch pad,
  • Touch display,
  • Track point,
  • Track ball,
  • Joystick,
  • Pen.

Presentation

Permalink "Presentation"
No.PropertyDescriptionClassificationReference
112Web: ConsistencyControl elements that have the same functionality must be designed consistently within the application.MustEN 301 549: 9.3.2.4
113Desktop: ConsistencyControl elements that have the same functionality should be designed consistently within the application.ShouldWCAG 2.1: 3.2.4 (AA)

Operation

Permalink "Operation"

From the perspective of accessibility, there is no compulsory requirement for an application to be operable with a pointing device. All that is required is the operation with the keyboard. However, if an application can be operated with a pointing device, specific requirements must be met.

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Note 1: This does not apply to unchanged content which is displayed by the platform software by default, such as standard tooltips for the respective programming language.

Note 2: The automatically-shown content can be hidden, e.g., with ESC or clicking on the triggering element, as long as no other actions are triggered.

| Must | EN 301 549:
9.1.4.13, 11.1.4.13 | | @!119 | Shown content | If additional content is shown when hovering with a pointing device, this content must be displayed until the pointing device is moved away from the triggering element and/or content shown, unless:
  • the content was deliberately closed (e.g. with ESC) or
  • the content is no longer valid (e.g. an error message in the input field after inputting a correct value).

Note: This does not apply to unchanged content which is displayed by the platform software by default, such as standard tooltips for the respective programming language.

| Must | EN 301 549:
9.1.4.13, 11.1.4.13 | | @!120 | Shown content | If additional content is shown when hovering with a pointing device, it must then be possible to move over this content with the pointing device, i.e. the content may not be hidden as soon as the pointing device is no longer positioned over the triggering element.

Note 1: This does not apply to unchanged content which is displayed by the platform software by default, such as standard tooltips for the respective programming language.

Note 2: To be able to move over the shown content, the content must be displayed at the triggering element.

| Must | EN 301 549:
9.1.4.13, 11.1.4.13 | | @!121 | Cancelling the use of the pointer | During the use of the pointing device, the function of the control element may not be performed during the pressing (down event), but during the actual release (up event) unless:
  • the triggering of the function during the pressing of the key is essential (an electronic piano or a keyboard simulation, for example),
  • during the pressing, the function is automatically reversed upon the release, or
  • the function is part of a more complex function that can be canceled (e.g., picking up a drag-and-drop object by pressing the key on the pointing device and completing the action by releasing it again).
| Must | EN 301 549:
9.2.5.2, 11.2.5.2 | | @!122 | Click area | The click area of the control element should be at least 24 x 24 px.

Note 1: This does not apply to:

  • elements with which the offset of the click areas is more than 24 px,
  • elements that are situated within continuous text (e.g. links),
  • elements whose size is essential.

Note 2: The offset of the click areas is defined as the spacing between the farthest point of one element and the nearest point of the other element. The offset is determined in both directions and must be at least 24 px in each case.

| Should | WCAG 2.2 | | @!123 | Click area | The click area of the control element should be at least 44 x 44 px.

Note: This does not apply to:

  • elements whose function can be initialized using an alternative element with sufficient size (44 x 44 px),
  • elements that are situated within continuous text (e.g. links),
  • elements whose size is essential.

| Should | WCAG 2.1: 2.5.5 (AAA) | | @!124 | Different methods of operation | Users should be able to switch between different methods of operation (e.g. operation using the keyboard or operation using the mouse) at any time. | Should | WCAG 2.1: 2.5.6 (AAA) |

No.PropertyDescriptionClassificationReference
114Use of the keyboardIt must be possible to operate the entire application using the keyboard, i.e. all the functions that can be initialized with a pointing device can also be operated using the keyboard.

Note: This does not apply to path-bound inputs, such as a freehand screen in an image editing program.

MustEN 301 549:
9.2.1.1, 11.2.1.1
115BiometryIf biometric data is required for operational purposes (e.g. fingerprint, facial recognition), an alternative method of operation must be made available.

Note: The alternative method may also be based on biometric data provided that a different form of biometric data is used for this.

MustEN 301 549: 5.3
116ComplexityThe complex use of the pointing device must be avoided, unless
  • a non-complex, alternative form of operation is available,
  • the complex form of operation is essential,
  • the complex form of operation is for the control of the assistive technology.

Please note: Complex use of the pointing device means

  • multipoint operation (e.g. swiping with several fingers),
  • path-based operation (where the start and end points of the use of the pointing device aren’t just relevant, but at least one intermediate point is).

MustEN 301 549:
9.2.5.1, 11.2.5.1
117ComplexityThe dragging use of the pointing device should be avoided, unless:
  • a non-complex use of the pointing device without dragging is available,
  • the complex form of operation is essential,
  • the complex form of operation is for the control of the assistive technology.

Note 1: This applies to sliders and drag and drop functions, for example.

Note 2: An alternative use of the keyboard for the dragging use of the pointing device (using a keyboard shortcut, for example) is not sufficient. An alternative use of the pointing device should be available which can also include text input, however.

ShouldWCAG 2.2
118Shown contentIf additional content is shown when hovering with a pointing device, it must be possible to hide such content again without moving the pointing device away, unless:
  • the content consists of an error message, or
  • the content only hides white space or

Information about this article

Date:
15.01.2024
License:
CC-BY-SA 4.0
Version:
1.0

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