Gestures & device / The visual dictionary
Pan.
A continuous gesture that moves the visible content or an object in a plane.
Also calledpanningdrag to move view
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UI illustrationSee it in context
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What it is
A continuous gesture that moves the visible content or an object in a plane. Track the input smoothly and keep movement constrained to meaningful bounds.
When to use it
Use it for navigating a zoomed image, map, or large canvas.
Know the difference
Panning translates content; pinching scales it.
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Across platforms
WebiOSiPadOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinux
Web · iOS · iPadOS · Android · macOS · Windows · Linux
Touch pan often shares recognition with scrolling; desktop tools may reserve a hand tool or modified drag.
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Go to the source
Primary documentation for the pattern and its platform conventions.