- Qt 6.7
- Qt Quick
- QML Types
- DragHandler
- Qt 6.7.1 Reference Documentation

# DragHandler QML Type

Handler for dragging. More...

Import Statement: | import QtQuick
Inherits: | MultiPointHandler

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

## Properties

- acceptedButtons : flags
- acceptedDevices : flags
- acceptedModifiers : flags
- acceptedPointerTypes : flags
- active : bool
- activeTranslation : QVector2D
- cursorShape : Qt::CursorShape
- dragThreshold : int
- enabled : bool
- grabPermissions : flags
- margin : real
- parent : Item
- persistentTranslation : QVector2D
- snapMode : enumeration
- 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)

## Detailed Description

DragHandler is a handler that is used to interactively move an Item. Like other Input Handlers, by default it is fully functional, and manipulates its target.

     import QtQuick

     Rectangle {
         width: 100
         height: 100
         color: "lightsteelblue"
         DragHandler { }
     }

It has properties to restrict the range of dragging.

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

     import QtQuick

     Item {
         width: 640
         height: 480

         Rectangle {
             id: feedback
             border.color: "red"
             width: Math.max(10, handler.centroid.ellipseDiameters.width)
             height: Math.max(10, handler.centroid.ellipseDiameters.height)
             radius: Math.max(width, height) / 2
             visible: handler.active
         }

         DragHandler {
             id: handler
             target: feedback
         }
     }

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

     import QtQuick

     Item {
         width: 640
         height: 480

         DragHandler {
             id: handler
             target: null
         }

         Text {
             color: handler.active ? "darkgreen" : "black"
             text: handler.centroid.position.x.toFixed(1) + "," + handler.centroid.position.y.toFixed(1)
             x: handler.centroid.position.x - width / 2
             y: handler.centroid.position.y - height
         }
     }

If minimumPointCount and maximumPointCount are set to values larger than 1, the user will need to drag that many fingers in the same direction to start dragging. A multi-finger drag gesture can be detected independently of both a (default) single-finger DragHandler and a PinchHandler on the same Item, and thus can be used to adjust some other feature independently of the usual pinch behavior: for example adjust a tilt transformation, or adjust some other numeric value, if the `target` is set to null. But if the `target` is an Item, `centroid` is the point at which the drag begins and to which the `target` will be moved (subject to constraints).

At this time, drag-and-drop is not yet supported.

See also Drag, MouseArea, and Qt Quick Examples - Pointer Handlers.

## Property Documentation

acceptedButtons : flags

The mouse buttons which can activate this Pointer Handler.

By default, this property is set to Qt.LeftButton. It can be set to an OR combination of mouse buttons, and will ignore events from other buttons.

For example, a control could be made to respond to left and right clicks in different ways, with two handlers:

     Item {
         TapHandler {
             onTapped: console.log("left clicked")
         }
         TapHandler {
             acceptedButtons: Qt.RightButton
             onTapped: console.log("right clicked")
         }
     }

Note: Tapping on a touchscreen or tapping the stylus on a graphics tablet emulates clicking the left mouse button. This behavior can be altered via acceptedDevices or acceptedPointerTypes.

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 holds `true` whenever this Input Handler has taken sole responsibility for handing one or more eventPoints, by successfully taking an exclusive grab of those points. This means that it is keeping its properties up-to-date according to the movements of those eventPoints and actively manipulating its target (if any).

activeTranslation : QVector2D `[read-only]`

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

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().

persistentTranslation : QVector2D

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 drag gesture is being performed, activeTranslation is continuously added to it; after the gesture ends, it stays the same.

snapMode : enumeration

This property holds the snap mode.

The snap mode configures snapping of the target item's center to the eventPoint.

Possible values:

Constant | Description
--- | ---
`DragHandler.SnapNever` | Never snap
`DragHandler.SnapAuto` | The target snaps if the eventPoint was pressed outside of the target item and the target is a descendant of parent item (default)
`DragHandler.SnapWhenPressedOutsideTarget` | The target snaps if the eventPoint was pressed outside of the target
`DragHandler.SnapAlways` | Always snap

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 dragging.

`minimum` is the minimum acceptable value of x to be applied to the target. `maximum` is the maximum acceptable value of x to be applied to the target. If `enabled` is true, horizontal dragging is allowed. `activeValue` is the same as activeTranslation.x.

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.

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

`yAxis` controls the constraints for vertical dragging.

`minimum` is the minimum acceptable value of y to be applied to the target. `maximum` is the maximum acceptable value of y to be applied to the target. If `enabled` is true, vertical dragging is allowed. `activeValue` is the same as activeTranslation.y.

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: 50; height: 200

         Rectangle {
             id: knob
             width: parent.width; height: width; radius: width / 2
             anchors.centerIn: parent
             color: "lightsteelblue"

             Rectangle {
                 antialiasing: true
                 width: 4; height: 20
                 x: parent.width / 2 - 2
             }

             WheelHandler {
                 property: "rotation"
             }
         }

         DragHandler {
             target: null
             dragThreshold: 0
             yAxis.onActiveValueChanged: (delta)=> { knob.rotation -= delta }
         }
     }

## 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`.