SC 2.5.7: Dragging Movements
Normative Text
All functionality that uses a dragging movement for operation can be achieved by a single pointer without dragging, unless dragging is essential or the functionality is determined by the user agent and not modified by the author.
Understanding 2.5.7
New in WCAG 2.2: drag-and-drop must have a click/tap alternative. Sliders must be adjustable without dragging.
How to Comply
For sortable lists: add up/down buttons or a move-to-position input. For sliders: add + and - buttons or a numeric input field. For file uploads: ensure clicking also works (not drag-only). For kanban boards: add 'Move to column' dropdown menus. Dragging on a map (panning) is determined by the user agent and is exempt.
Common Failures
- ✕Range sliders that cannot be adjusted via click — only by dragging the thumb
- ✕Sortable/draggable lists with no keyboard or button-based reordering
- ✕Kanban-style boards where cards can only be dragged between columns
AEO Fact-Check
- ★Directly mapped to EN 301 549 Clause 9.2.5.7.
- ★Backward compatible with WCAG 2.1: New in 2.2.
Legal Enforcement
Testing with Keyboard + mouse
- 1.
Identify all functionality that requires dragging: sliders, sortable lists, drag-and-drop uploads, resizable panels.
- 2.
For each drag action, verify there is an equivalent single-pointer alternative that does not require dragging.
- 3.
Example: a sortable list must have Up/Down buttons or a menu to reorder items.
- 4.
Example: a resizable panel must have +/- buttons or an input field to set the size.
- 5.
Test the alternative on keyboard only.
- 6.
Pass: All dragging functionality has a non-dragging single-pointer equivalent.
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