7 ms·

Gesture navigation is the standard in android these days. The OS-provided bar isn't even default on budget oppo or Xiaomi devices.

nine_k 3y ago
In which apps is this the default? I can't think of a single one where a swipe were used to navigate "back" and "forth". Gestures are everywhere, but never in the capacity of the back button.
- goosedragons 3y ago
  Do you use Android with gesture based navigation or with the old style 3 buttons? With gesture based navigation, swiping back is the same as the old back button in any app.
- wildrhythms 3y ago
  What do you mean? Flagship Android phones haven't shipped with a physical back button in years. Gesture navigation has been the norm for quite a while. And it works when apps use that system for its navigation patterns, which in my experience is every app on Android, including 3rd party.
- jeroenhd 3y ago
  If you enable gesture navigation, swiping from the side of the screen emits a virtual back button press. It's an OS level gesture (that apps can attempt to disable, but that can be overridden by the user). This doesn't require apps to implement anything it they implement normal back button behaviour already. Several brands have removed button navigation by default. I think you can still enable it in the settings, but the button bar at the bottom of the screen seems to be the exception these days.
realusername 3y ago
It's indeed very rare to have this large navigation bar on Android nowadays, I suspect the latest Android doesn't even support it.
- hpaavola 3y ago
  Android (14) still supports it, it's in Settings > System > Navigation mode (on Pixel devices, different manufacturers might put it in other menus). I still use it and will keep using it.
  - realusername 3y ago
    Interesting, I had no idea they kept it! That's going to make my life much easier when testing if my apps work with it
  - gvurrdon 3y ago
    Same here; I found the swiping very difficult. I have also had a small number of people ask me how to switch to buttons.
mort96 3y ago
Ah, I see. I haven't used Android in a while. Then I don't really see what differentiates iOS and Android at all, other than that iOS still usually has the button in the top left.
- RomanAlexander 3y ago
  The difference is iOS has non-standard gestures that is determined by the app, and Android it is enforced by the OS. It is infuriating on iOS trying to locate where someone stuffed the back button (is it a hidden pulldown? bottom left? top left? hamburger? breadcrumb trail? does gesture swipe even work here? ...) Much worse than when apps like reddit/tiktok override the back-to-exit behavior in android.

nine_k 3y ago

In which apps is this the default? I can't think of a single one where a swipe were used to navigate "back" and "forth". Gestures are everywhere, but never in the capacity of the back button.

goosedragons 3y ago
Do you use Android with gesture based navigation or with the old style 3 buttons? With gesture based navigation, swiping back is the same as the old back button in any app.
wildrhythms 3y ago
What do you mean? Flagship Android phones haven't shipped with a physical back button in years. Gesture navigation has been the norm for quite a while. And it works when apps use that system for its navigation patterns, which in my experience is every app on Android, including 3rd party.
jeroenhd 3y ago
If you enable gesture navigation, swiping from the side of the screen emits a virtual back button press. It's an OS level gesture (that apps can attempt to disable, but that can be overridden by the user). This doesn't require apps to implement anything it they implement normal back button behaviour already. Several brands have removed button navigation by default. I think you can still enable it in the settings, but the button bar at the bottom of the screen seems to be the exception these days.

realusername 3y ago

It's indeed very rare to have this large navigation bar on Android nowadays, I suspect the latest Android doesn't even support it.

hpaavola 3y ago
Android (14) still supports it, it's in Settings > System > Navigation mode (on Pixel devices, different manufacturers might put it in other menus). I still use it and will keep using it.
- realusername 3y ago
  Interesting, I had no idea they kept it! That's going to make my life much easier when testing if my apps work with it
- gvurrdon 3y ago
  Same here; I found the swiping very difficult. I have also had a small number of people ask me how to switch to buttons.

mort96 3y ago

Ah, I see. I haven't used Android in a while. Then I don't really see what differentiates iOS and Android at all, other than that iOS still usually has the button in the top left.

RomanAlexander 3y ago
The difference is iOS has non-standard gestures that is determined by the app, and Android it is enforced by the OS. It is infuriating on iOS trying to locate where someone stuffed the back button (is it a hidden pulldown? bottom left? top left? hamburger? breadcrumb trail? does gesture swipe even work here? ...) Much worse than when apps like reddit/tiktok override the back-to-exit behavior in android.