pointer Media Query
This media query has not yet been implemented and is currently only a proposed spec. I've written this post to raise awareness of it and get general thoughts about it.
As more devices emerge and differences in device interaction are implemented, the more important good CSS code will become. In order to write good CSS, we need some indicator about device capabilities. We've used CSS media queries thus far, with checks for max-width and pixel ratios. One new proposed CSS media query is the pointer media query; the pointer media query provides information about how accurate the device pointer is (if present).
The pointer media query has three values:
none- device has no pointercoarse- pointer has limited accuracyfine- pointer has high level of accuracy
A fine pointer would be a mouse or a stylus-based touch screen, while a coarse pointer would be a finger-based touch screen, like an iPad, iPhone, or other tablet. The example provided within the spec shows enlarging checkboxes and radio buttons on coarse-pointered devices:
/* Make radio buttons and check boxes larger if we have an inaccurate pointing device */
@media (pointer:coarse) {
input[type="checkbox"], input[type="radio"] {
min-width:30px;
min-height:40px;
background:transparent;
}
}
I envision this API being used to enlarge navigation items and other prominent links when the pointer is coarse. What would you do with the pointer media query?
This is great. Is there also a way to check this with JS? I guess you could use the “animation end event” hack for this, but would be better if it’s officially supported and always in sync.
The problem with this particular query is that it assumes you have one or the other, when its becoming more common to have both a fine and a course pointer. In fact, studies have constantly shown people are really really good at using two different pointing devices at the same time!
Webdevs need to be careful that they don’t assume just because the user is on a touch screen, they’re using touch. Sites need to design to handle both (simultaneously, CSS is the oddball here because there you can’t optimize for both experiences at the same time). PointerEvents will make that easier, but they’re barely at the starting gate right now (which is good because it means this time we can design something good and not just something that matches the iPhone).
Providing a live demo for something that has no implementations at all is somewhat confusing.
Do Canary
… or Aurora support this?
With my CSS WG Co-chairmanship’s hat on, this is a part of an Editor’s Draft that was *never* discussed inside the CSS WG and is *far away* from reaching the level of first public Working Draft yet. I really hope your implementation is prefixed or behind a preference. And I think you should probably not have implemented-and-released it at all without discussing it with the CSS WG first… Speaking of the proposal, ‘coarse’ is a VERY bad choice for a value since most non english speakers will not understand it, trust me on that please.
In summary, this is a very very very early proposal, it’s still subject to major changes, and I certainly don’t want to hear in the future “we’ve implemented and shipped it, we can’t change it any more” from Mozilla :-)
I just found the proposal interesting — I’m not someone who implements these things at Mozilla. I’ve updated the note at the top to make it clear that this proposal has not been approved.
I’d love this media query to also tell me if I’m dealing with a touchscreen or a pointer. Basically, can I use the hover effect.
* None
* Fine Touch (stylus)
* Course Touch (finger)
* Pointer (mouse)
Maybe even a:
* Terrible Pointer (Wiimote)
@Justin css media query level 4 is also proposing the hover media feature, check http://dev.w3.org/csswg/mediaqueries4/#hover for spec and other level 4 stuff
Here’s an interesting result when trying to match the query in Chrome: http://d.pr/i/gP5r
Very frustrating – I’m trying to find a semi-reliable way to distinguish between desktop and touch-based users for tooltips.
I just used that code for some testing. Current Results (of support)
pointerandhovermedia queries are supported on iOS beginning with 9 (tested 9.3.5 on iPad) whereas it’s not working on 8 (tested 8.4 on iPhone 5S).Both the old iPad (mini 1, iOS 8) and the new iPad (Air 2, iOS 9) respond with
pointer: coarseandhover: none.It gets weird if I look at my Nexus 5X with Android 7.1.1:
With the current Chrome stable (version 54) it has
pointer: coarseand nohover.With the current Chrome beta (version 55) it has
pointer: fineandhover: hover.Current Firefox on Android (version 49) doesn’t know any of
pointerandhover.Just to complete:
My local (no touch, W10x64) Chrome beta (v55) and Edge (v38.14393) shows
pointer: fineandhover: hover.My local Firefox (v49) and IE (11) don’t know any of
pointerandhover.Awesome. Thanks. Great article, to the point and with the code. This is how articles ought to be written. No need for 13 Ways to… I’ll settle for one. Thanks you. Refreshing.