- Qt 6.8
- Qt Quick
- QML Types
- PinchHandler
- Qt 6.8.0 Reference Documentation

# PinchHandler QML Type

Handler for pinch gestures. More...

Import Statement: | import QtQuick
Inherits: | MultiPointHandler

- List of all members, including inherited members
- Deprecated members

## Properties

- acceptedDevices : flags
- acceptedModifiers : flags
- acceptedPointerTypes : flags
- active : bool
- activeRotation : real
- activeScale : real
- activeTranslation : QPointF
- centroid : QtQuick::handlerPoint
- cursorShape : Qt::CursorShape
- dragThreshold : int
- enabled : bool
- grabPermissions : flags
- margin : real
- parent : Item
- persistentRotation : real
- persistentScale : real
- persistentTranslation : QPointF
- rotationAxis
  - rotationAxis.activeValue : real
  - rotationAxis.enabled : bool
  - rotationAxis.maximum : real
  - rotationAxis.minimum : real
- scaleAxis
  - scaleAxis.activeValue : real
  - scaleAxis.enabled : bool
  - scaleAxis.maximum : real
  - scaleAxis.minimum : real
- target : Item
- xAxis
  - xAxis.activeValue : real
  - xAxis.enabled : bool
  - xAxis.maximum : real
  - xAxis.minimum : real
- yAxis
  - yAxis.activeValue : real
  - yAxis.enabled : bool
  - yAxis.maximum : real
  - yAxis.minimum : real

## Signals

- canceled(eventPoint point)
- grabChanged(PointerDevice::GrabTransition transition, eventPoint point)
- rotationChanged(qreal delta)
- scaleChanged(qreal delta)
- translationChanged(QVector2D delta)

## Detailed Description

PinchHandler is a handler that interprets a multi-finger gesture to interactively rotate, zoom, and drag an Item. Like other Input Handlers, by default it is fully functional, and manipulates its target, which is the Item within which it is declared.

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 400
         height: 300
         color: "lightsteelblue"
         PinchHandler { }
     }

It has properties to restrict the range of dragging, rotation, and zoom.

If it is declared within one Item but is assigned a different target, it handles events within the bounds of the outer Item but manipulates the `target` Item instead:

     import QtQuick

     Item {
         width: 640
         height: 480

         Rectangle {
             id: map
             color: "aqua"
             width: 400
             height: 300
         }

         PinchHandler {
             target: map
         }
     }

A third way to use it is to set target to `null` and react to property changes in some other way:

     import QtQuick

     Window {
         width: 320; height: 240
         visible: true
         title: handler.persistentRotation.toFixed(1) + "° " +
                handler.persistentTranslation.x.toFixed(1) + ", " +
                handler.persistentTranslation.y.toFixed(1) + " " +
                (handler.persistentScale * 100).toFixed(1) + "%"

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             persistentScale: 0.25
             onTranslationChanged: (delta) => {
                 image.x -= delta.x
                 image.y -= delta.y
             }
         }

         Image {
             id: image
             source: "images/album-cover.jpg"
             scale: handler.persistentScale
             x: -600; y: -450
         }
     }

Note: The pinch begins when the number of fingers pressed is between minimumPointCount and maximumPointCount, inclusive. Until then, PinchHandler tracks the positions of any pressed fingers, but if it's a disallowed number, it does not scale or rotate its target, and the active property remains `false`.

See also PinchArea, QPointerEvent::pointCount(), QNativeGestureEvent::fingerCount(), and Qt Quick Examples - Pointer Handlers.

## Property Documentation

acceptedDevices : flags

The types of pointing devices that can activate this Pointer Handler.

By default, this property is set to PointerDevice.AllDevices. If you set it to an OR combination of device types, it will ignore events from non-matching devices.

For example, a control could be made to respond to mouse and stylus clicks in one way, and touchscreen taps in another way, with two handlers:

     Item {
        TapHandler {
            acceptedDevices: PointerDevice.Mouse | PointerDevice.TouchPad | PointerDevice.Stylus
            onTapped: console.log("clicked")
        }
        TapHandler {
            acceptedDevices: PointerDevice.TouchScreen
            onTapped: console.log("tapped")
        }
     }

Note: Not all platforms are yet able to distinguish mouse and touchpad; and on those that do, you often want to make mouse and touchpad behavior the same.

acceptedModifiers : flags

If this property is set, it will require the given keyboard modifiers to be pressed in order to react to pointer events, and otherwise ignore them.

If this property is set to `Qt.KeyboardModifierMask` (the default value), then the PointerHandler ignores the modifier keys.

For example, an Item could have two handlers of the same type, one of which is enabled only if the required keyboard modifiers are pressed:

     Item {
        TapHandler {
            acceptedModifiers: Qt.ControlModifier
            onTapped: console.log("control-tapped")
        }
        TapHandler {
            acceptedModifiers: Qt.NoModifier
            onTapped: console.log("tapped")
        }
     }

If you set `acceptedModifiers` to an OR combination of modifier keys, it means all of those modifiers must be pressed to activate the handler:

     Item {
        TapHandler {
            acceptedModifiers: Qt.ControlModifier | Qt.AltModifier | Qt.ShiftModifier
            onTapped: console.log("control-alt-shift-tapped")
        }
     }

The available modifiers are as follows:

Constant | Description
--- | ---
`NoModifier` | No modifier key is allowed.
`ShiftModifier` | A Shift key on the keyboard must be pressed.
`ControlModifier` | A Ctrl key on the keyboard must be pressed.
`AltModifier` | An Alt key on the keyboard must be pressed.
`MetaModifier` | A Meta key on the keyboard must be pressed.
`KeypadModifier` | A keypad button must be pressed.
`GroupSwitchModifier` | X11 only (unless activated on Windows by a command line argument). A Mode_switch key on the keyboard must be pressed.
`KeyboardModifierMask` | The handler does not care which modifiers are pressed.

If you need even more complex behavior than can be achieved with combinations of multiple handlers with multiple modifier flags, you can check the modifiers in JavaScript code:

     Item {
         TapHandler {
             onTapped:
                 switch (point.modifiers) {
                 case Qt.ControlModifier | Qt.AltModifier:
                     console.log("CTRL+ALT");
                     break;
                 case Qt.ControlModifier | Qt.AltModifier | Qt.MetaModifier:
                     console.log("CTRL+META+ALT");
                     break;
                 default:
                     console.log("other modifiers", point.modifiers);
                     break;
                 }
         }
     }

See also Qt::KeyboardModifier.

acceptedPointerTypes : flags

The types of pointing instruments (finger, stylus, eraser, etc.) that can activate this Pointer Handler.

By default, this property is set to PointerDevice.AllPointerTypes. If you set it to an OR combination of device types, it will ignore events from non-matching devices.

For example, a control could be made to respond to mouse, touch, and stylus clicks in some way, but delete itself if tapped with an eraser tool on a graphics tablet, with two handlers:

     Rectangle {
        id: rect
        TapHandler {
            acceptedPointerTypes: PointerDevice.Generic | PointerDevice.Finger | PointerDevice.Pen
            onTapped: console.log("clicked")
        }
        TapHandler {
            acceptedPointerTypes: PointerDevice.Eraser
            onTapped: rect.destroy()
        }
     }

active : bool `[read-only]`

This property is `true` when all the constraints (epecially minimumPointCount and maximumPointCount) are satisfied and the target, if any, is being manipulated.

activeRotation : real `[read-only]`

The rotation of the pinch gesture in degrees, with positive values clockwise. It is `0` when the gesture begins. If target is not null, this will be automatically added to its rotation. Otherwise, bindings can be used to do arbitrary things with this value.

See also QtQuick::PinchHandler::rotationAxis.activeValue.

activeScale : real `[read-only]`

The scale factor while the pinch gesture is being performed. It is 1.0 when the gesture begins, increases as the touchpoints are spread apart, and decreases as the touchpoints are brought together. If target is not null, its scale will be automatically multiplied by this value. Otherwise, bindings can be used to do arbitrary things with this value.

See also QtQuick::PinchHandler::scaleAxis.activeValue.

activeTranslation : QPointF `[read-only]`

The translation of the cluster of points while the pinch gesture is being performed. It is `0, 0` when the gesture begins, and increases as the eventPoint(s) are dragged downward and to the right. After the gesture ends, it stays the same; and when the next pinch gesture begins, it is reset to `0, 0` again.

Note: On some touchpads, such as on a macOS trackpad, native gestures do not generate any translation values, and this property stays at `(0, 0)`.

centroid : QtQuick::handlerPoint `[read-only]`

A point exactly in the middle of the currently-pressed touch points. The target will be rotated around this point.

cursorShape : Qt::CursorShape

This property holds the cursor shape that will appear whenever the mouse is hovering over the parent item while active is `true`.

The available cursor shapes are:

- Qt.ArrowCursor
- Qt.UpArrowCursor
- Qt.CrossCursor
- Qt.WaitCursor
- Qt.IBeamCursor
- Qt.SizeVerCursor
- Qt.SizeHorCursor
- Qt.SizeBDiagCursor
- Qt.SizeFDiagCursor
- Qt.SizeAllCursor
- Qt.BlankCursor
- Qt.SplitVCursor
- Qt.SplitHCursor
- Qt.PointingHandCursor
- Qt.ForbiddenCursor
- Qt.WhatsThisCursor
- Qt.BusyCursor
- Qt.OpenHandCursor
- Qt.ClosedHandCursor
- Qt.DragCopyCursor
- Qt.DragMoveCursor
- Qt.DragLinkCursor

The default value is not set, which allows the cursor of parent item to appear. This property can be reset to the same initial condition by setting it to undefined.

Note: When this property has not been set, or has been set to `undefined`, if you read the value it will return `Qt.ArrowCursor`.

See also Qt::CursorShape, QQuickItem::cursor(), and HoverHandler::cursorShape.

dragThreshold : int

The distance in pixels that the user must drag an eventPoint in order to have it treated as a drag gesture.

The default value depends on the platform and screen resolution. It can be reset back to the default value by setting it to undefined. The behavior when a drag gesture begins varies in different handlers.

enabled : bool

If a PointerHandler is disabled, it will reject all events and no signals will be emitted.

grabPermissions : flags

This property specifies the permissions when this handler's logic decides to take over the exclusive grab, or when it is asked to approve grab takeover or cancellation by another handler.

Constant | Description
--- | ---
`PointerHandler.TakeOverForbidden` | This handler neither takes from nor gives grab permission to any type of Item or Handler.
`PointerHandler.CanTakeOverFromHandlersOfSameType` | This handler can take the exclusive grab from another handler of the same class.
`PointerHandler.CanTakeOverFromHandlersOfDifferentType` | This handler can take the exclusive grab from any kind of handler.
`PointerHandler.CanTakeOverFromItems` | This handler can take the exclusive grab from any type of Item.
`PointerHandler.CanTakeOverFromAnything` | This handler can take the exclusive grab from any type of Item or Handler.
`PointerHandler.ApprovesTakeOverByHandlersOfSameType` | This handler gives permission for another handler of the same class to take the grab.
`PointerHandler.ApprovesTakeOverByHandlersOfDifferentType` | This handler gives permission for any kind of handler to take the grab.
`PointerHandler.ApprovesTakeOverByItems` | This handler gives permission for any kind of Item to take the grab.
`PointerHandler.ApprovesCancellation` | This handler will allow its grab to be set to null.
`PointerHandler.ApprovesTakeOverByAnything` | This handler gives permission for any type of Item or Handler to take the grab.

The default is `PointerHandler.CanTakeOverFromItems | PointerHandler.CanTakeOverFromHandlersOfDifferentType | PointerHandler.ApprovesTakeOverByAnything` which allows most takeover scenarios but avoids e.g. two PinchHandlers fighting over the same touchpoints.

margin : real

The margin beyond the bounds of the parent item within which an eventPoint can activate this handler. For example, on a PinchHandler where the target is also the `parent`, it's useful to set this to a distance at least half the width of a typical user's finger, so that if the `parent` has been scaled down to a very small size, the pinch gesture is still possible. Or, if a TapHandler-based button is placed near the screen edge, it can be used to comply with Fitts's Law: react to mouse clicks at the screen edge even though the button is visually spaced away from the edge by a few pixels.

The default value is 0.

parent : Item

The Item which is the scope of the handler; the Item in which it was declared. The handler will handle events on behalf of this Item, which means a pointer event is relevant if at least one of its eventPoints occurs within the Item's interior. Initially target() is the same, but it can be reassigned.

See also target and QObject::parent().

persistentRotation : real

The rotation to be applied to the target if it is not null. Otherwise, bindings can be used to do arbitrary things with this value. While the pinch gesture is being performed, activeRotation is continuously added; after the gesture ends, it stays the same; and when the next pinch gesture begins, it begins to be modified by activeRotation again.

It's possible to set this property, as a way of synchronizing the basis rotation with a rotation that was set in some other way, for example by another handler. If you set this property directly, `activeRotation` does not change, and `rotationChanged(0)` is emitted.

persistentScale : real

The scale factor that will automatically be set on the target if it is not null. Otherwise, bindings can be used to do arbitrary things with this value. While the pinch gesture is being performed, it is continuously multiplied by activeScale; after the gesture ends, it stays the same; and when the next pinch gesture begins, it begins to be multiplied by activeScale again.

It's possible to set this property, as a way of synchronizing the basis scale with a scale that was set in some other way, for example by another handler. If you set this property directly, `activeScale` does not change, and `scaleChanged(1)` is emitted.

persistentTranslation : QPointF

The translation to be applied to the target if it is not `null`. Otherwise, bindings can be used to do arbitrary things with this value. While the pinch gesture is being performed, activeTranslation is continuously added to it; after the gesture ends, it stays the same.

It's possible to set this property, as a way of synchronizing the basis translation with a translation that was set in some other way, for example by another handler. If you set this property directly, `activeTranslation` does not change, and `translationChanged({0, 0})` is emitted.

Note: On some touchpads, such as on a macOS trackpad, native gestures do not generate any translation values, and this property stays at `(0, 0)`.

rotationAxis group
rotationAxis.activeValue : real `[read-only]`
rotationAxis.enabled : bool
rotationAxis.maximum : real
rotationAxis.minimum : real

`rotationAxis` controls the constraints for setting the rotation of the target item according to the rotation of the group of touchpoints.

`minimum` is the minimum acceptable rotation. `maximum` is the maximum acceptable rotation. If `enabled` is true, rotation is allowed. `activeValue` is the same as QtQuick::PinchHandler::activeRotation.

The `activeValueChanged` signal is emitted when `activeValue` changes, to provide the increment by which it changed. This is intended for incrementally adjusting one property via multiple handlers.

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100; height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"; antialiasing: true

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             xAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.radius -= delta
             yAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.border.width += delta
             rotationAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.rotation += delta // add
             scaleAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.scale *= delta // multiply
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.NoModifier
             property: "rotation"
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.ControlModifier
             property: "scale"
         }
     }

Note: The snippet is contrived: PinchHandler already knows how to move, scale and rotate its parent item, but this code achieves different behavior in a less-declarative way, to illustrate how to use `activeValueChanged` in special cases.

scaleAxis group
scaleAxis.activeValue : real `[read-only]`
scaleAxis.enabled : bool
scaleAxis.maximum : real
scaleAxis.minimum : real

`scaleAxis` controls the constraints for setting the scale of the target item according to the distance between the touchpoints.

`minimum` is the minimum acceptable scale. `maximum` is the maximum acceptable scale. If `enabled` is true, scaling is allowed. `activeValue` is the same as QtQuick::PinchHandler::activeScale.

The `activeValueChanged` signal is emitted when `activeValue` changes, to provide the multiplier for the incremental change. This is intended for incrementally adjusting one property via multiple handlers.

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100; height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"; antialiasing: true

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             xAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.radius -= delta
             yAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.border.width += delta
             rotationAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.rotation += delta // add
             scaleAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.scale *= delta // multiply
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.NoModifier
             property: "rotation"
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.ControlModifier
             property: "scale"
         }
     }

Note: The snippet is contrived: PinchHandler already knows how to move, scale and rotate its parent item, but this code achieves different behavior in a less-declarative way, to illustrate how to use `activeValueChanged` in special cases.

target : Item

The Item which this handler will manipulate.

By default, it is the same as the parent, the Item within which the handler is declared. However, it can sometimes be useful to set the target to a different Item, in order to handle events within one item but manipulate another; or to `null`, to disable the default behavior and do something else instead.

xAxis group
xAxis.activeValue : real `[read-only]`
xAxis.enabled : bool
xAxis.maximum : real
xAxis.minimum : real

`xAxis` controls the constraints for horizontal translation of the target item.

`minimum` is the minimum acceptable x coordinate of the translation. `maximum` is the maximum acceptable x coordinate of the translation. If `enabled` is true, horizontal dragging is allowed.

The `activeValueChanged` signal is emitted when `activeValue` changes, to provide the increment by which it changed. This is intended for incrementally adjusting one property via multiple handlers.

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100; height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"; antialiasing: true

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             xAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.radius -= delta
             yAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.border.width += delta
             rotationAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.rotation += delta // add
             scaleAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.scale *= delta // multiply
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.NoModifier
             property: "rotation"
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.ControlModifier
             property: "scale"
         }
     }

Note: The snippet is contrived: PinchHandler already knows how to move, scale and rotate its parent item, but this code achieves different behavior in a less-declarative way, to illustrate how to use `activeValueChanged` in special cases.

yAxis group
yAxis.activeValue : real `[read-only]`
yAxis.enabled : bool
yAxis.maximum : real
yAxis.minimum : real

`yAxis` controls the constraints for vertical translation of the target item.

`minimum` is the minimum acceptable y coordinate of the translation. `maximum` is the maximum acceptable y coordinate of the translation. If `enabled` is true, vertical dragging is allowed.

The `activeValueChanged` signal is emitted when `activeValue` changes, to provide the increment by which it changed. This is intended for incrementally adjusting one property via multiple handlers.

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100; height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"; antialiasing: true

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             xAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.radius -= delta
             yAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.border.width += delta
             rotationAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.rotation += delta // add
             scaleAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta) => parent.scale *= delta // multiply
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.NoModifier
             property: "rotation"
         }

         WheelHandler {
             acceptedModifiers: Qt.ControlModifier
             property: "scale"
         }
     }

Note: The snippet is contrived: PinchHandler already knows how to move, scale and rotate its parent item, but this code achieves different behavior in a less-declarative way, to illustrate how to use `activeValueChanged` in special cases.

## Signal Documentation

canceled(eventPoint point)

If this handler has already grabbed the given point, this signal is emitted when the grab is stolen by a different Pointer Handler or Item.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onCanceled`.

grabChanged(PointerDevice::GrabTransition transition, eventPoint point)

This signal is emitted when the grab has changed in some way which is relevant to this handler.

The transition (verb) tells what happened. The point (object) is the point that was grabbed or ungrabbed.

Valid values for transition are:

Constant | Description
--- | ---
`PointerDevice.GrabExclusive` | This handler has taken primary responsibility for handling the point.
`PointerDevice.UngrabExclusive` | This handler has given up its previous exclusive grab.
`PointerDevice.CancelGrabExclusive` | This handler's exclusive grab has been taken over or cancelled.
`PointerDevice.GrabPassive` | This handler has acquired a passive grab, to monitor the point.
`PointerDevice.UngrabPassive` | This handler has given up its previous passive grab.
`PointerDevice.CancelGrabPassive` | This handler's previous passive grab has terminated abnormally.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onGrabChanged`.

rotationChanged(qreal delta)

The `rotationChanged` signal is emitted when activeRotation (and therefore persistentRotation) changes. The delta value gives the additive change in rotation. For example, if the user moves fingers to change the pinch distance so that `activeRotation` changes from 10 to 30 degrees, `rotationChanged(20)` will be emitted. You can use that to incrementally change the rotation of an item:

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100; height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             onRotationChanged: (delta) => parent.rotation += delta // add
             onScaleChanged: (delta) => parent.scale *= delta // multiply
         }
     }

Note: If you set the persistentRotation property directly, `delta` is `0`.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onRotationChanged`.

scaleChanged(qreal delta)

The `scaleChanged` signal is emitted when activeScale (and therefore persistentScale) changes. The delta value gives the multiplicative change in scale. For example, if the user moves fingers to change the pinch distance so that `activeScale` changes from 2 to 2.5, `scaleChanged(1.25)` will be emitted. You can use that to incrementally change the scale of an item:

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100; height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             onRotationChanged: (delta) => parent.rotation += delta // add
             onScaleChanged: (delta) => parent.scale *= delta // multiply
         }
     }

Note: If you set the persistentScale property directly, `delta` is `1`.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onScaleChanged`.

translationChanged(QVector2D delta)

The `translationChanged` signal is emitted when activeTranslation (and therefore persistentTranslation) changes. The delta vector gives the change in translation. You can use that to incrementally change the position of an item:

     import QtQuick

     Window {
         width: 320; height: 240
         visible: true
         title: handler.persistentRotation.toFixed(1) + "° " +
                handler.persistentTranslation.x.toFixed(1) + ", " +
                handler.persistentTranslation.y.toFixed(1) + " " +
                (handler.persistentScale * 100).toFixed(1) + "%"

         PinchHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
             persistentScale: 0.25
             onTranslationChanged: (delta) => {
                 image.x -= delta.x
                 image.y -= delta.y
             }
         }

         Image {
             id: image
             source: "images/album-cover.jpg"
             scale: handler.persistentScale
             x: -600; y: -450
         }
     }

Note: If you set the persistentTranslation property directly, `delta` is `0, 0`.

Note: The corresponding handler is `onTranslationChanged`.