Drag & Drop
Drag and Drop
A basic operation where you grab an item on screen and move it to another location
In Simple Terms
Drag and Drop is the action of grabbing an icon or file on screen with a mouse and releasing it at your destination. It's commonly used when moving a file to a different folder on your computer or attaching a photo to an email. On smartphones, the same idea applies when you long-press an app icon to reposition it.
Behind the Name
The name combines two English words: "Drag" (to pull something along) and "Drop" (to let something fall). The pressing-and-moving motion resembles dragging an object, while releasing the button is likened to dropping it. It is sometimes referred to as D&D as well.
Take a Closer Look!
Drag and Drop is an intuitive interaction method for selecting a file, icon, or other item on a computer screen and moving it to a different location.
Put simply, it's the sequence of "grab, carry, and release."
Using a mouse or trackpad, you press and hold the button over the target item, move it to the desired destination, then release the button to complete the action.
Because this mirrors the real-world sensation of picking something up and carrying it, the technique is easy to grasp intuitively.
Beyond moving files, it's widely used for transferring data between applications.
For example, you can save an image from a browser to your desktop, or add a music file to a playlist.
On mobile devices, the equivalent is a long-press to grab an item, then moving and releasing it at a new location or target.
This is distinct from a plain drag—where you simply swipe to scroll or move something without a specific drop destination.
As a foundational UI element, Drag and Drop lets users trigger an action intuitively in a single continuous motion.