Gestures & device / The visual dictionary

Tap.

A brief touch that activates a target on a touch screen.

Also calledtouchsingle tap

See it in context

UI illustration

Tap target

What it is

A brief touch that activates a target on a touch screen. Respond when the touch completes on the intended target and provide immediate visual feedback.

When to use it

Use it as the primary direct-touch activation gesture.

Know the difference

A tap is a touch gesture; a click is the corresponding pointer activation.

Across platforms

iOSiPadOSAndroidWeb

iOS · iPadOS · Android · Web

Touch targets need more space than mouse targets; expose the same action to keyboard and assistive input.

Go to the source

Primary documentation for the pattern and its platform conventions.

Apple Human Interface Guidelines — Gestures

FROM NAME TO NEXT BUILD

Put it into words.

Choose a device and an effect, then copy the whole description.

Building forPhone modelAnimation effectBrowse the effect library

Create a tap. Respond when the touch completes on the intended target and provide immediate visual feedback. Use it as the primary direct-touch activation gesture. Make it responsive and accessible, and follow the selected platform's interaction conventions.

Your copied description includes the component, device context, and selected animation timing.

See it in context

What it is

When to use it

Know the difference

Across platforms

iOS · iPadOS · Android · Web

Go to the source

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Double tap

Long press

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