Touch Events
Handle touch events for mobile devices
IntermediateTopic: Events Programs
JavaScript Touch Events Program
This program helps you to learn the fundamental structure and syntax of JavaScript programming.
// Method 1: Basic touch events
const element = document.getElementById('myElement');
element.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {
console.log('Touch started');
console.log('Touches:', e.touches.length);
const touch = e.touches[0];
console.log('X:', touch.clientX, 'Y:', touch.clientY);
});
element.addEventListener('touchmove', function(e) {
e.preventDefault(); // Prevent scrolling
console.log('Touch moving');
const touch = e.touches[0];
console.log('Position:', touch.clientX, touch.clientY);
});
element.addEventListener('touchend', function(e) {
console.log('Touch ended');
console.log('Changed touches:', e.changedTouches.length);
});
element.addEventListener('touchcancel', function(e) {
console.log('Touch cancelled');
});
// Method 2: Multi-touch
element.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {
if (e.touches.length === 2) {
console.log('Two finger touch');
const touch1 = e.touches[0];
const touch2 = e.touches[1];
const distance = Math.sqrt(
Math.pow(touch2.clientX - touch1.clientX, 2) +
Math.pow(touch2.clientY - touch1.clientY, 2)
);
console.log('Distance:', distance);
}
});
// Method 3: Swipe detection
let touchStartX, touchStartY;
element.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {
touchStartX = e.touches[0].clientX;
touchStartY = e.touches[0].clientY;
});
element.addEventListener('touchend', function(e) {
const touchEndX = e.changedTouches[0].clientX;
const touchEndY = e.changedTouches[0].clientY;
const deltaX = touchEndX - touchStartX;
const deltaY = touchEndY - touchStartY;
const minSwipeDistance = 50;
if (Math.abs(deltaX) > Math.abs(deltaY)) {
// Horizontal swipe
if (deltaX > minSwipeDistance) {
console.log('Swipe right');
} else if (deltaX < -minSwipeDistance) {
console.log('Swipe left');
}
} else {
// Vertical swipe
if (deltaY > minSwipeDistance) {
console.log('Swipe down');
} else if (deltaY < -minSwipeDistance) {
console.log('Swipe up');
}
}
});
// Method 4: Pinch zoom
let initialDistance = 0;
element.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {
if (e.touches.length === 2) {
const touch1 = e.touches[0];
const touch2 = e.touches[1];
initialDistance = Math.sqrt(
Math.pow(touch2.clientX - touch1.clientX, 2) +
Math.pow(touch2.clientY - touch1.clientY, 2)
);
}
});
element.addEventListener('touchmove', function(e) {
if (e.touches.length === 2) {
const touch1 = e.touches[0];
const touch2 = e.touches[1];
const currentDistance = Math.sqrt(
Math.pow(touch2.clientX - touch1.clientX, 2) +
Math.pow(touch2.clientY - touch1.clientY, 2)
);
const scale = currentDistance / initialDistance;
console.log('Scale:', scale);
if (scale > 1.1) {
console.log('Pinch out (zoom in)');
} else if (scale < 0.9) {
console.log('Pinch in (zoom out)');
}
}
});
// Method 5: Tap vs long press
let pressTimer;
element.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {
pressTimer = setTimeout(function() {
console.log('Long press detected');
// Handle long press
}, 500); // 500ms
});
element.addEventListener('touchend', function(e) {
clearTimeout(pressTimer);
console.log('Tap detected');
});
element.addEventListener('touchmove', function(e) {
clearTimeout(pressTimer);
});Output
// Output depends on touch interaction
Understanding Touch Events
Touch events handle mobile interactions.
Touch Event Types
•touchstart: Touch begins
•touchmove: Touch moves
•touchend: Touch ends
•touchcancel: Touch cancelled
Touch Properties
•touches: All active touches
•changedTouches: Changed touches
•targetTouches: Touches on element
•clientX/clientY: Touch coordinates
Common Gestures
•Tap: Quick touch
•Long press: Hold touch
•Swipe: Fast movement
•Pinch: Two finger zoom
Use Cases
•Mobile apps
•Touch interfaces
•Gesture recognition
•Mobile games
Best Practices
•Prevent default for custom gestures
•Handle multi-touch
•Use changedTouches in touchend
•Test on real devices
Let us now understand every line and the components of the above program.
Note: To write and run JavaScript programs, you need to set up the local environment on your computer. Refer to the complete article Setting up JavaScript Development Environment. If you do not want to set up the local environment on your computer, you can also use online IDE to write and run your JavaScript programs.