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Re: what's the expected way to close a modal dialog in a web page using a mobile device with screen reader?

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From: jp Jamous
Date: Apr 13, 2025 1:38AM

I would be careful with gestures to implement any navigational functionality. I have witnessed a feature in many native and web apps, like YouTube Music, where swiping left to right moves to the next song. While this approach might be nice for certain users, it backfires on screen reader users who use left to right and right to left gestures to navigate forward and backwards through controls.

I would not encourage overriding any default OS functionality to achieve a native or web app functionality. It does not benefit users, rather it works against default navigation functionalities with different screen readers and operating systems.

Stick to the Close button that would hide the modal and sets the focus back on the button that actuated that modal. That is the proper execution that users expect and that WCAG focuses on in its guidelines.