Source: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/gestures. This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02. Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.
Gestures
Best practices
Give people more than one way to interact with your app.
In general, respond to gestures in ways that are consistent with people’s expectations.
Handle gestures as responsively as possible.
Indicate when a gesture isn’t available.
Custom gestures
Add custom gestures only when necessary.
Discoverable
Straightforward to perform
Distinct from other gestures
Not the only way to perform an important action in your app or game
Make custom gestures easy to learn.
Use shortcut gestures to supplement standard gestures, not replace them.
Avoid conflicting with gestures that access system UI.
Platform considerations
iOS, iPadOS
Consider allowing simultaneous recognition of multiple gestures if it enhances the experience.
visionOS
Support standard gestures everywhere you can.
Offer both indirect and direct interactions when possible.
Avoid requiring specific body movements or positions for input.
Designing custom gestures in visionOS
Prioritize comfort.
Carefully consider complex custom gestures that involve multiple fingers or both hands.
Avoid custom gestures that require using a specific hand.
Working with system overlays in visionOS
Reserve the area around a person’s hand for system overlays and their related gestures.
Consider deferring the system overlay behavior when designing an immersive app or game.
Use caution when designing custom gestures that involve a rolling motion of the hand, wrist, and forearm.
watchOS
Double tap
Avoid setting a primary action in views with lists, scroll views, or vertical tabs.
Choose the button that people use most commonly as the primary action in a view.
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For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/gestures