Target size
Target size is the clickable / tappable area of an interactive element. WCAG 2.2 SC 2.5.8 (Target Size, Minimum) at Level AA requires every target to be at least 24×24 CSS pixels, with documented exceptions.
Detailed explanation
The 24×24 minimum applies to the clickable region, not the visible icon — a 16×16 icon inside a 24×24 padded button passes. Exceptions exist for inline targets in body text (a link inside a paragraph), targets with a 24×24 spacing buffer, user-agent defaults, and "essential" presentation (e.g., a map's native pin density).
This is the single most common WCAG 2.2 failure on mobile Shopify storefronts. Theme designers ship desktop-first 16×16 social icons or 18-line product variant pickers that fail on touch devices. Apple's Human Interface Guidelines recommend 44pt; Material Design recommends 48dp — both far above the 24-pixel WCAG minimum.
How this applies to Shopify stores
AccessComply's scanner measures every interactive element's computed bounding box at mobile viewport (375×667) and reports targets under 24×24. The fix agent adds padding via theme CSS to bring them to 24px without resizing the visual icon.
What merchants should check next
Treat this term as a practical audit prompt, not just a definition. Check the storefront pages where the concept shows up in real customer journeys: product discovery, add-to-cart, cart drawer, checkout handoff, account login, and support contact flows. If the issue affects code, verify the rendered HTML and computed browser output after the theme change. If it affects copy or media, keep the merchant-facing wording accurate and easy to maintain.
Primary source: w3.org