Interaction Documentation

Interaction documentation specifies how design system components respond to user input across different input methods and devices. This documentation ensures developers implement consistent interaction patterns regardless of whether users interact via mouse, keyboard, touch, or assistive technologies. Comprehensive interaction documentation improves both usability and accessibility.

What Is Interaction Documentation

Interaction documentation describes component responses to all forms of user input. This includes mouse interactions like click, hover, and drag. It covers keyboard interactions including focus management, key bindings, and navigation patterns. Touch interactions such as tap, swipe, and pinch require documentation for mobile implementations. Assistive technology interactions need documentation to ensure screen reader and switch access users have equivalent functionality.

This documentation type often gets overlooked in favor of visual design documentation. However, interaction behavior significantly impacts user experience and accessibility compliance. Inconsistent interactions confuse users and create accessibility barriers.

How Interaction Documentation Works

Interaction documentation typically organizes by input method or by interaction type. Input method organization groups all mouse interactions together, then keyboard, then touch. Interaction type organization groups all ways to trigger a specific action, such as all methods to open a dropdown. Both approaches have merits depending on audience needs.

Keyboard interaction documentation should reference established patterns from WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices. Standard patterns for menus, tabs, dialogs, and other widgets have documented keyboard expectations. Design system documentation can reference these standards while noting any deviations or extensions.

Documentation should specify both default interactions and any customization options. Some components may allow developers to customize key bindings or disable certain interactions. These options require documentation alongside default behavior.

Key Considerations

• Mouse interactions should document hover states, click targets, and drag behaviors where applicable
• Keyboard documentation must cover focus management, key bindings, and navigation within complex widgets
• Touch interactions need documentation for gestures beyond simple taps
• Screen reader announcement behavior requires explicit documentation for dynamic content changes

Common Questions

How do teams document touch interactions that have no mouse equivalent?

Touch-specific interactions like swipe and pinch require documentation for components that support them. Documentation should describe the gesture, its effect, and any alternatives for users who cannot perform the gesture. Mobile-first components may have touch interactions as primary, with mouse interactions as alternatives. Some teams document touch interactions separately from desktop interactions, while others present them together with device context. The key is ensuring all users can access functionality regardless of input method.

What level of detail is appropriate for keyboard interaction documentation?

Keyboard interaction documentation should enable developers to implement fully keyboard-accessible components. This requires listing all keyboard shortcuts, describing focus order within components, explaining focus trapping behavior for modals and similar patterns, and documenting any focus management on state changes. Reference to WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices can reduce documentation volume for standard patterns. Custom or extended keyboard behaviors need full documentation. Testing documentation against implementation helps identify gaps.

Summary

Interaction documentation ensures consistent component behavior across input methods and devices. Comprehensive documentation covers mouse, keyboard, touch, and assistive technology interactions. Reference to established patterns like WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices provides foundation for standard widgets while custom behaviors require detailed specification.