● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact
WordPress bug affecting left-handed users fixed after seven years
Key points
- A bug affected left-handed users on WordPress sites.
- Trigger caused comment box to appear during scrolling.
- Fix was implemented by removing outdated code.
Description of the Bug
A bug was reported seven years ago that affected only left-handed users of WordPress sites. The issue caused a comment box to unexpectedly appear while scrolling, triggered by a link on the left side of the page. Users who scroll with their right hand did not experience this issue.
Background of the Issue
The bug originated from a 2017 change where a touchstart listener was added to link clicks to avoid delays related to touch events. This code was meant to address older browser inconsistencies but had not been necessary for several years.
Implementation of the Fix
The fix involved a simple deletion of the outdated lines of code causing the unwanted interaction. This change was implemented by the author of the blog after realizing the intermittent problem for users scrolling with their left hand.
Current Implications
While the fix is a step toward improving user experience for left-handed individuals, there are still limitations in controlling user interactions on websites. The concept of a meta tag to filter hand preferences has not been adopted.
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Reporting from
A bug in WordPress that affected left-handed users by triggering a comment box on scrolling has been fixed after seven years. The bug arose from an outdated touchstart listener that was added in 2017, causing unintentional interruptions for left-handed users.