Editing Pointing device gesture (section)

== Current use ==
{{As of|2005}}, most programs do not support gestures other than the drag operation. Each program that recognizes pointing device gestures does so in its own way, sometimes allowing for very short mouse movement distances to be recognized as gestures, and sometimes requiring very precise emulation of a certain movement pattern (e.g. circle). Some implementations allow users to customize these factors.

Some [[video game]]s have used gestures. For example, in the ''[[Myth: The Fallen Lords|Myth]]'' [[real-time tactics]] series, originally created by Bungie, players use them to order battlefield units to face in a desired direction. Another game using gestures is [[Lionhead Studios|Lionhead]]'s ''[[Black & White (game)|Black & White]]''. The game ''[[Arx Fatalis]]'' uses mouse gestures for drawing runes in the air to cast spells. Several [[Nintendo]] [[Wii]] games take advantage of such a system. ''[[Ōkami]]'' uses a system similar to mouse gestures; the player can enter a drawing mode in which the shape they create (circle, lightning bolt, line, etc.) performs a function in the game such as creating a bomb or changing the time from night to day. Other examples of computer games that use mouse gestures are ''[[Die by the Sword]]'' and ''[[Silver (video game)|Silver]]'' where basic mouse gestures actually map attack moves and such in real-time combat, along with ''[[MX vs. ATV: Reflex]]'', which has a control scheme that implements its titular rider "reflex" system with mouse gestures.<ref>{{cite web |title=MX vs. ATV: Reflex PC UK Manual |url=https://manuals.thqnordic.com/MXvsATV_REFLEX/MXvsATV_REFLEX_PC_MANUAL_EN.pdf |access-date=13 February 2022 |page=3 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213163747/https://manuals.thqnordic.com/MXvsATV_REFLEX/MXvsATV_REFLEX_PC_MANUAL_EN.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>  The upcoming [[Nintendo Switch 2]]'s [[Joy-Con 2]] controllers, which also double as mice, can also support mouse gestures, as evidenced in the forthcoming online sports game ''[[Drag x Drive]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaser |first1=Rachel |title=Drag X Drive uses Nintendo Switch 2’s new mouse features |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/drag-x-drive-uses-nintendo-switch-2s-new-mouse-features/ |website=VentureBeat |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref>

The [[Opera (web browser)|Opera web browser]] has recognized gestures since version 5.10 (April 2001) but this feature was disabled by default. Opera browser also supports [[mouse chording]] which serves a similar function but doesn't necessitate mouse movement. The first browser that used advanced mouse gestures (in 2002) was [[Maxthon]], in which a highly customizable interface allowed the assignment of almost every action to one of 52 mouse gestures and few mouse chords. Several mouse gesture extensions are also available for the [[Mozilla Firefox]] browser. These extensions use almost identical gestures as Opera.

Some tools provide mouse gestures support in any application for [[Microsoft Windows]]. [[K Desktop Environment 3]] includes universal mouse gesture support since version 3.2.

[[Windows Aero]] provides three mouse gestures called Aero Peek, Aero Shake and Aero Snap. See the corresponding article for a description.