Pointer Cancellation - Success Criterion 2.5.2 (Level A)

Question

Does your site or application have functionality for users to prevent or cancel an operation using a single point of contact (e.g. single taps and clicks, double-taps and clicks, long presses, and path-based gestures)?

Why is this important?

At times users may accidentally click or touch a button or target location which triggers an unwanted action. This may happen more frequently to people with tremors, mobility impairments, or cognitive disabilities. It is essential that all users have a way to prevent or undo these unintended actions.

Whom does it benefit?

Example 1

As a person with a fine motor impairment that uses a touch activated tablet,
I want the option to slide my finger off the submit button
so that I can cancel the action and not submit my assignment at that time.

Example 2

As a person with hand tremors who uses web conferencing, I sometimes hit the “end call” instead of the “mute” button.
I want the application to warn me “Are you sure you want to end the call?” before I am disconnected
so that I can verify my action before it is initiated.

What should you do?

A down-event is when a user pushes down on a mouse button or touches down on a surface, or presses down a key. Avoid activating a function when a down-event is triggered.

Ensure functionality occurs when the user triggers an up-event by releasing the pressed mouse button, lifting a finger or pointer, or releasing a key. Also ensure the user can cancel the action before the up-event occurs (e.g. slide their finger off the target without lifting up) or undo it afterwards.

How do you do it?

When a user interacts with a screen by clicking, tapping, and pressing make sure at least one is true:

No down-event:
Avoid initiating an action to happen when the user presses or clicks a down-event. If essential, provide some other way for the user to cancel the action.
Up-event abort or undo:
Initiate action on the up-event and a way to abort the function before completion or to undo the function after completion.
Up reversal:
The up-event reverses any outcome of the preceding down-event (e.g. the user touches down on the wrong button, he/she can slide their finger or pointer off that button before lifting it. This will cancel the action.)