Design Gestures That Are Discoverable
Motion & Interaction · gestures, feature discovery
Updated 2026-07-28
- Gestures can make interfaces faster, but hidden gestures create confusion.
- Never make essential actions available only through gestures:
- Users should have a visible alternative.
- Important actions need discoverable controls.
- Match gestures to user expectations:
- Swipe to dismiss.
- Pinch to zoom.
- Drag to reorder.
- Provide feedback during gestures:
- Show movement.
- Show possible outcomes.
- Confirm completion.
- Avoid accidental gestures:
- Separate swipe areas from scrolling.
- Add thresholds before triggering actions.
- Support recovery:
- Undo accidental actions.
- Allow users to reverse gestures.
- A good gesture feels natural because users understand what will happen before it completes.
Related guides
UX Handbook