references/interaction-patterns.md

# Interaction Patterns

## What Problem This Solves

This reference covers the interaction patterns most useful in analytical and operational dashboards.

## When to Use It

Use this when the screen needs coordinated views, drill-down, focus-plus-context, or filter interactions.

## Key Takeaways

- Overview plus detail, brush and link, and explicit reset patterns are dependable building blocks.
- Hover can preview, but persistent selection should carry analytical commitment.
- Interaction should reduce cognitive load, not hide essential context.
- On mobile, tap/focus replaces hover, dense marks need step-through or search, and settings should return the user to the affected visualization after Apply, Cancel, Reset, or close.
- Drag, pan, and pinch interactions need explicit browser gesture ownership plus alternate controls.

## Common Mistakes

- Making hover the only path to values or labels.
- Requiring too many control interactions before the main state becomes understandable.
- Letting a desktop filter rail become the first mobile screen above the live visualization.

## Adjacent Skills

- `../SKILL.md`
- `../../accessibility-and-inclusive-visualization/SKILL.md`
- `../../../references/foundations/mobile-first-responsive-visualization.md`

## Source Links

- [Visualization Analysis and Design](https://mitpressbookstore.mit.edu/book/9781466508910)