Touch Events
Still the primary touch API on iOS Safari (Pointer Events support is newer and incomplete). Required for pinch-to-zoom, swipe gestures, and touch-specific UX. Most apps need both Touch and Pointer Events.
What It Defines
Legacy touch input model for multi-touch surfaces. Defines TouchEvent (touchstart, touchmove, touchend, touchcancel), Touch objects (identifier, clientX/Y, radiusX/Y, force), and TouchList. Predates Pointer Events but still needed for iOS Safari compatibility and gesture recognition.
Canonical (Normative)
Convenient (Practical)
Publishes web platform specs including CSS, accessibility, security policies, Service Workers, Web App Manifest, and many browser APIs. Also maintains some versioned HTML/DOM specs.
Related Specs
The modern way to handle all pointing devices with one code path. Replaces separate mouse + touch event handling. Required for drawing apps, drag interactions, and multi-touch. Pressure and tilt enable pen/stylus features.
The foundational event model that every web application uses. Understanding event propagation (capture, target, bubble), event.preventDefault(), and the difference between key and code prevents input handling bugs.