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( Operable / WCAG 2.5.8 )

Interactive element is too small to tap accurately

This check maps to Target Size (Minimum). Use the guidance below to confirm the issue, understand who it affects and ship a fix.

Moderate Level AA WCAG 2.5.8 — Target Size (Minimum)

What’s wrong

A link, button, or other interactive control is smaller than 24x24 CSS pixels and does not have enough spacing from adjacent controls to compensate.

Why it matters

New in WCAG 2.2. People with tremors, motor disabilities, or limited fine motor control struggle to accurately tap small targets on touch screens. A tiny icon button with no padding is a common failure. Missing the target and activating the wrong control is frustrating at best and harmful at worst.

How to fix it

Make interactive elements at least 24x24px. Padding counts toward the target size — you don’t need to change the visual size of an icon, just add padding around it.

Before 
.icon-btn {
  width: 16px;
  height: 16px;
  padding: 0;
}
After 
/* Add padding to reach 24x24px minimum */
.icon-btn {
  width: 16px;
  height: 16px;
  padding: 4px;
}

/* Better: aim for 44x44px */
.icon-btn {
  min-width: 44px;
  min-height: 44px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

24x24px is the WCAG 2.2 AA minimum. For a better experience, aim for 44x44px which is what Apple and Google both recommend.

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