MEDIUMWCAG 2.5.5 AAA
Tiny Touch Targets
Tap targets fall below recommended dimensions, increasing missed taps and physical strain.
Try It Yourself
Demo warning
Small controls disproportionately affect users with motor variation and mobile interaction constraints.
Try tapping or clicking the miniature controls repeatedly and notice miss frequency.
Hits: 0 | Missed taps: 0
Manual Testing Protocol
Follow this sequence to reproduce the failure consistently and verify the fix with the same workflow.
1. Setup
- Use trackpad/touchpad or mobile device if available.
- Keep browser zoom at default first, then test at 200%.
2. Reproduction Steps
- Attempt to activate each tiny control quickly.
- Track misses and accidental neighboring activations.
- Repeat for a second pass to compare consistency.
3. Expected Failure Signals
- High miss rate on small interactive controls.
- Multiple attempts required for simple actions.
- Frustration and physical strain increase over time.
4. Fix Verification
- Primary controls meet recommended target size and spacing.
- Adjacent controls do not trigger accidentally during normal use.
- Controls remain usable on small-screen and zoomed contexts.
Evidence Capture Checklist
- Record the exact user goal that fails (for example: submit form, complete checkout, navigate menu).
- Capture screen recording + keyboard path from first interaction to failure state.
- Map failure to WCAG 2.5.5 (Level AAA) and affected user groups.
- Document business impact: conversion loss, support burden, legal/compliance risk, or trust damage.
The Impact
What Happens
- Frequent mis-taps trigger wrong actions
- Users need multiple attempts for simple tasks
- Physical effort and frustration increase
Who Gets Hurt
Motor-impaired users
Mobile users on small screens
Users with temporary hand limitations
The Broken Code
.icon-button {
width: 16px;
height: 16px;
padding: 2px;
}WCAG 2.5.5: Reference
"The size of the target for pointer inputs is at least 44 by 44 CSS pixels except where exempt."
Level AAA - Accurate targeting is required for safe, efficient interaction.
Related Medium Issues
Explore neighboring failures in the same severity band.