[transition] CR Request for Pointer Events Level 3 - pointerevents3

This is a transition request for a Candidate Recommendation
CR Request for Pointer Events Level 3 - pointerevents3
from https://github.com/w3c/transitions/issues/715

# Document title, URLs, estimated publication date

Pointer Events
Level 3
https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/
publication date: [04/29](https://w3c.github.io/spec-releases/milestones/?cr=2025-04-29)

# Abstract

The features in this specification extend or modify those found in Pointer Events, a W3C Recommendation that describes events and related interfaces for handling hardware-agnostic pointer input from devices including a mouse, pen, or touchscreen. For compatibility with existing mouse-based content, this specification also describes a mapping to fire Mouse Events for other pointer device types.

# Status

This specification is an update to [[PointerEvents2](https://www.w3.org/TR/pointerevents3/)].

This revision includes new features:
* [altitudeAngle](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#dom-pointerevent-altitudeangle)
* [azimuthAngle](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#dom-pointerevent-azimuthangle)
* [pointerrawupdate](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#dfn-pointerrawupdate) event, for high frequency events
* access associated [coalesced events](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#coalesced-events), for a more precise handling of pointer movement data
* access built-in [predicted events](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#predicted-events), to reduce perceived latency
* new CSS [touch-action values](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#dfn-touch-action-values): pan-left, pan-right, pan-up, pan-down

This revision also includes clarifications:
* strategies and approaches in how a user agent assign a [pointerId](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#dom-pointerevent-pointerid)
* [suppressing a pointer event stream](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#suppressing-a-pointer-event-stream)
* [boundary events caused by layout changes](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#boundary-events-caused-by-layout-changes)
relation with [click, auxclick, and contextmenu events](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#the-click-auxclick-and-contextmenu-events)
* considerations to avoid fingerprinting with [factory calibration information](https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#dfn-factory-calibration-information)

This document was published by the [Pointer Events Working Group](https://www.w3.org/groups/wg/pointer-events) as a Candidate Recommendation Snapshot using the [Recommendation track](https://www.w3.org/policies/process/20231103/#recs-and-notes).

Publication as a Candidate Recommendation does not imply endorsement by W3C and its Members. A Candidate Recommendation Snapshot has received [wide review](https://www.w3.org/policies/process/20231103/#dfn-wide-review), is intended to gather implementation experience, and has commitments from Working Group members to [royalty-free licensing](https://www.w3.org/policies/patent-policy/#sec-Requirements) for implementations.

This Candidate Recommendation is not expected to advance to Proposed Recommendation any earlier than 27 May 2025. Before this specification exits Candidate Recommendation, two or more independent implementations must pass each test, although no single implementation must pass each test. 

This document was produced by a group operating under the [W3C Patent Policy](https://www.w3.org/policies/patent-policy/). W3C maintains a [public list of any patent disclosures](https://www.w3.org/groups/wg/pointer-events/ipr) made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains [Essential Claim(s)](https://www.w3.org/policies/patent-policy/#def-essential) must disclose the information in accordance with [section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy](https://www.w3.org/policies/patent-policy/#sec-Disclosure).

This document is governed by the [03 November 2023 W3C Process Document](https://www.w3.org/policies/process/20231103/).

# Link to group's decision to request transition

[Call for Consensus (CfC): Pointer Events Level 3 to Candidate Recommendation](https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-pointer-events/2025JanMar/0072.html)

# Changes

See https://www.w3.org/TR/2025/WD-pointerevents3-20250320/#revision-history

# Requirements satisfied

N/A (no requirements)

# Dependencies met (or not)

No change

# Wide Review

* [Wide review tracker issue](https://github.com/w3c/pointerevents/issues/482)
* [Horizontal review issues](https://www.w3.org/PM/horizontal/review.html?shortname=pointerevents)
  * [‘Logical’ values for the ‘touch-action’ property](https://github.com/w3c/pointerevents/issues/505#top) got cleared by i18n (deferred for a future version)

# Issues addressed

* [open issues](https://github.com/w3c/pointerevents/issues)
* [v3 issues](https://github.com/w3c/pointerevents/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20label%3Av3)

Note that there is a [Level 4 version](https://www.w3.org/TR/pointerevents4/) of the specification already.

# Formal Objections

None

# Implementation

https://wpt.fyi/results/pointerevents?label=experimental&label=master&aligned

This is active and ongoing. See https://github.com/w3c/pointerevents/issues/445

Before this specification exits Candidate Recommendation, two or more independent implementations must pass each test, although no single implementation must pass each test. 

# Patent disclosures

None

https://www.w3.org/groups/wg/pointer-events/ipr/#current-disclosures

The ongoing exclusion opportunity applies to [Pointer Events Level 4](https://www.w3.org/TR/pointerevents4/).

cc @patrickhlauke

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Received on Friday, 18 April 2025 18:05:14 UTC