Touch target

The interactive area on a touchscreen or pen-based display that responds to user input when tapped or pressed. Touch target size is a critical accessibility consideration because targets that are too small or too closely spaced cause selection errors, particularly for older adults, people with motor impairments, and users with low vision. WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.5.8 (Target Size Minimum, Level AA) requires that touch targets be at least 24x24 CSS pixels, with the enhanced criterion 2.5.5 recommending 44x44 pixels. Research has shown that users systematically tap below their visual aim point and that individual variation in tap distribution means one-size-fits-all target regions may not serve all users equally. Effective touch target design considers not just the visible element size but the actual active hit area, spacing between targets, and the user's input method and motor capabilities.