Pull to refresh
An interaction where the user drags the top of a scrollable list downward to trigger a refresh.
When the user pulls past a threshold and releases, a loading indicator appears and the list reloads. The gesture is invisible until used — a discoverability cost — but for users who know it, it's faster than tapping a refresh button. Originally iOS-only, now standard on Android and many mobile web apps.
Also called
pull-down to refreshswipe down to refresh
When to use
- Feeds and lists that update over time (email, social, messaging)
- Mobile contexts where a visible refresh button would crowd the screen
When not to use
- Desktop apps where the gesture doesn't map naturally (mouse scrolling is different)
- Lists that auto-refresh — pull would feel redundant
Related
Source
Invented by Loren Brichter for the Tweetie iOS app in 2008-2009. Apple later acquired the app and the pattern spread widely.