LiquidPurple - Strategic Website Management
Liquid Purple Liquid Purple

Glossary of Terms

We have compiled this list of terms and definitions to help you better understand the terminology used within the web development community.

Tap Targets

Search for glossary terms (regular expression allowed)
Tap Targets are the clickable or tappable areas on a page, like buttons and links. On mobile devices, targets that are too small or too close together lead to frustrating mis-taps. Sizing and spacing them generously makes your site easier and more pleasant to use on touchscreens.

Tap Targets

Tap targets are the interactive areas on your page — buttons, links, form fields, checkboxes, and anything else a user taps or clicks. On a desktop with a mouse, hitting a small link is mildly annoying. On a phone with a fingertip, it is genuinely difficult. The average adult fingertip covers about 10 millimeters, and when interactive elements are too small or crammed together, users hit the wrong thing constantly. Properly sized and spaced tap targets are one of the simplest ways to make a mobile experience feel comfortable rather than combative.

Why It Matters

  • Small targets cause mis-taps. When a button is tiny or two links sit right next to each other, users accidentally tap the wrong one. This leads to unexpected navigation, accidental form submissions, or triggering actions they did not intend — all of which erode trust.
  • It directly affects mobile usability. Search engines evaluate mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor, and tap target sizing is one of the things they check. Pages with undersized or overlapping targets may be flagged as having usability issues.
  • Accessibility depends on it. Users with motor impairments or limited dexterity need generous target sizes even more than average users. What feels slightly annoying for one person can be a complete barrier for another.
  • It reduces user frustration. Few things make someone leave a site faster than repeatedly tapping the wrong button. Generous tap targets feel effortless. Tiny ones feel like a test of patience nobody signed up for.

How to Fix It

  1. Make targets at least 48 by 48 CSS pixels. This is the recommended minimum size for touch targets. It gives fingertips enough room to land accurately. Buttons, links, and form controls should all meet this threshold on mobile.
  2. Add spacing between adjacent targets. Even properly sized targets cause problems if they are touching. Add at least 8 pixels of space between interactive elements so users do not accidentally tap a neighbor.
  3. Use padding to increase the tappable area. You do not always need to make the visible element larger. Adding padding to links and buttons increases the touch-responsive area without changing the visual design. The target grows, but the text stays the same size.
  4. Test on real mobile devices. What looks fine in a desktop browser preview may feel cramped on an actual phone. Test your pages by tapping through them on a real touchscreen to catch sizing issues the emulator misses.
  5. Pay extra attention to navigation menus. Mobile navigation menus are one of the most common offenders. Menu items crammed into a tight list with no spacing guarantee mis-taps. Space them out and make each item a comfortable size to tap.

Common Mistakes

  • Only testing on desktop. A link that is easy to click with a mouse may be impossible to tap accurately with a finger. Always verify interactive elements at mobile viewport sizes on a real device or at minimum a touch-accurate emulator.
  • Inline links packed tightly in text. A paragraph with several links close together is a minefield on mobile. If links must appear close together in text, consider spreading them out or using a different layout for mobile views.
  • Relying on pinch-to-zoom as a workaround. Expecting users to zoom in to tap a small target is not a solution — it is an admission that the target is too small. Fix the sizing rather than pushing the problem onto the user.
  • Ignoring form elements. Checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown toggles are notoriously small on mobile. Wrap them with labels that also act as tap targets, or increase the control size directly so users do not have to aim precisely.
Bottom Line: Size all interactive elements to at least 48 by 48 CSS pixels, add spacing between neighboring targets, use padding to expand tappable areas, and test on real phones. Comfortable tap targets turn a frustrating mobile experience into a smooth one.
Hits - 202
Synonyms: Touch Targets, Mobile Buttons, Tap Size

What Does "Liquid Purple" mean?

noun | / LIK-wid PUR-pul /

  1. (biochemistry) Also known as visual purple or rhodopsin — a light-sensitive receptor protein found in the rods of the retina. It enables vision in dim light by transforming invisible darkness into visible form. Derived from the Greek rhódon (rose) and ópsis (sight), its name reflects its delicate pink hue and vital role in perception.

  2. (modern usage) Liquid Purple — a digital marketing agency specializing in uncovering unseen opportunities and illuminating brands hidden in the digital dark. Much like its biological namesake, Liquid Purple transforms faint signals into clear visibility — revealing what others overlook and bringing businesses into the light.

Origin: From the scientific term rhodopsin, discovered by Franz Christian Boll in 1876; adopted metaphorically by a marketing firm dedicated to visual clarity in the age of algorithms.

Client Login

Copyright © 2026 Liquid Purple | All Rights Reserved.
Follow us around the web:
 

Rooted in Southern California, Serving the World.
For over 20 years, Liquid Purple has been headquartered in the heart of Southern California, serving clients across Irvine, Newport Beach, Anaheim, and the greater Los Angeles area. While we are proud of our local roots, our digital reach extends far beyond our local area. We support businesses in major hubs like Denver, Dallas, New York, and Miami, as well as international clients. Our ability to operate across time zones means you can often wake up to completed tasks and progress updates—keeping your business moving while you sleep.