Dispatch a simulated click event

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 97 views

Embla Carousel Bug: Click Handlers Not Firing on First Click

Embla Carousel is a popular JavaScript library for creating responsive and customizable carousels. However, users have reported a bug where click handlers inside carousel items do not fire on the first click. This issue is particularly problematic when using the embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin, which simulates mousemove events to enable wheel gestures. In this article, we will investigate the cause of this bug and explore potential solutions.

The issue arises when configuring Embla Carousel with the following settings:

dragFree: true
embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin
watchDrag: (emblaApi, e) => (emblaApi.containerNode() === e.target): This function is intended to disable click+drag but allow wheel gesture plugin's simulated mousemove events.

When using scroll gestures/mouse wheel to scroll the carousel, clicking on a button inside a carousel item does not trigger the click handler on the first click. However, clicking on the button again triggers the click handler as expected.

The expected behavior is that buttons inside carousel items should be clickable on the first click, without any issues.

To investigate this issue, we need to understand how Embla Carousel handles mouse events. The mousemove handler sets preventClick = true, which prevents click handlers from firing. However, there is no corresponding way for a plugin to unset this flag, which might make sense to do in mouseup.

One possible solution is to dispatch a simulated click event, knowing that the first one will be ignored. However, this approach feels dirty and might not be the ideal solution.

Another approach is to re-evaluate the embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin and consider whether it is the best approach to translate wheel events into mouse movement events. Perhaps the plugin should be setting the position more directly, rather than relying on simulated mousemove events.

This issue is observed on all browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

The issue is reported on Embla Carousel version 8.3.1.

Unfortunately, there is no CodeSandbox available to reproduce the issue.

Before submitting this bug report, the user has made research efforts and searched the documentation, as well as existing issues.

In conclusion, the Embla Carousel bug where click handlers do not fire on the first click is a complex issue that requires further investigation. While there are potential solutions, such as dispatching a simulated click event or re-evaluating the embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin, a more ideal solution would be to address the root cause of the issue. We hope that this bug report will help the Embla Carousel community to identify and fix this issue.

Dispatch a simulated click event: This approach feels dirty and might not be the ideal solution.
Re-evaluate the embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin: Consider whether the plugin is the best approach to translate wheel events into mouse movement events.
Address the root cause of the issue: Investigate why the preventClick = true flag is set in the mousemove handler and consider whether there is a corresponding way for a plugin to unset it.

Update Embla Carousel to the latest version: Check if the issue is fixed in the latest version of Embla Carousel.
Use a different plugin: Consider using a different plugin that does not rely on simulated mousemove events.
Implement a custom solution: If the issue is not fixed in the latest version of Embla Carousel, consider implementing a custom solution to address the root cause of the issue.

To address this issue, we recommend that the Embla Carousel community:

Investigate the root cause of the issue: Understand why the preventClick = true flag is set in the mousemove handler and consider whether there is a corresponding way for a plugin to unset it.
Develop a more ideal solution: Consider alternative approaches to translating wheel events into mouse movement events.
Implement a custom solution: If the issue is not fixed in the latest version of Embla Carousel, consider implementing a custom solution to address the root cause of the issue.
Embla Carousel Bug: Click Handlers Not Firing on First Click - Q&A

In our previous article, we discussed the Embla Carousel bug where click handlers do not fire on the first click. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the common questions and concerns related to this issue.

A: The cause of this bug is due to the preventClick = true flag being set in the mousemove handler. This flag prevents click handlers from firing, and there is no corresponding way for a plugin to unset it.

A: No, this issue is not specific to the embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin. However, the plugin does rely on simulated mousemove events, which may contribute to the issue.

A: Yes, updating Embla Carousel to the latest version may fix this issue. However, it is recommended to investigate the root cause of the issue and consider alternative approaches to translating wheel events into mouse movement events.

A: Some potential solutions to this issue include:

Dispatching a simulated click event
Re-evaluating the embla-carousel-wheel-gestures plugin and considering alternative approaches
Addressing the root cause of the issue by investigating why the preventClick = true flag is set in the mousemove handler

A: Yes, you can use a different plugin that does not rely on simulated mousemove events. However, it is recommended to investigate the root cause of the issue and consider alternative approaches to translating wheel events into mouse movement events.

A: To implement a custom solution, you will need to investigate the root cause of the issue and consider alternative approaches to translating wheel events into mouse movement events. You may need to modify the Embla Carousel code or create a custom plugin to address the issue.

A: Some best practices for debugging and troubleshooting this issue include:

Investigating the root cause of the issue
Using console logs and debugging tools to identify the problem
Testing different scenarios and edge cases
Considering alternative approaches and solutions

A: You can contribute to the Embla Carousel community by:

Reporting the issue and providing detailed information
Collaborating with the Embla Carousel team to investigate and fix the issue
Sharing your knowledge and expertise to help others who may be experiencing the same issue

In conclusion, the Embla Carousel bug where click handlers do not fire on the first click is a complex issue that requires further investigation. By understanding the root cause of the issue and considering alternative approaches, you can implement a custom solution to fix this issue. We hope that this Q&A article has provided valuable information and insights to help you troubleshoot and fix this issue.