diff --git a/graphics/core.lua b/graphics/core.lua
index 1ef315f..58b6b8c 100644
--- a/graphics/core.lua
+++ b/graphics/core.lua
@@ -2,101 +2,12 @@
 -- Graphics Core Types, Checks, and Constructors
 --
 
+local events  = require("graphics.events")
+local flasher = require("graphics.flasher")
+
 local core = {}
 
--- Core Events
-
-local events = {}
-
----@enum click_button
-events.click_button = {
-    VIRTUAL = 0,
-    LEFT_BUTTON = 1,
-    RIGHT_BUTTON = 2,
-    MID_BUTTON = 3
-}
-
----@enum click_type
-events.click_type = {
-    TAP = 0,
-    DOWN = 1,
-    DRAG = 2,
-    UP = 3
-}
-
----@class mouse_interaction
----@field monitor string
----@field button click_button
----@field type click_type
----@field x integer
----@field y integer
-
--- create a new monitor touch mouse interaction event
----@nodiscard
----@param monitor string
----@param x integer
----@param y integer
----@return mouse_interaction
-function events.touch(monitor, x, y)
-    return {
-        monitor = monitor,
-        button = events.click_button.LEFT_BUTTON,
-        type = events.click_type.TAP,
-        x = x,
-        y = y
-    }
-end
-
--- create a new mouse click mouse interaction event
----@nodiscard
----@param button click_button
----@param x integer
----@param y integer
----@return mouse_interaction
-function events.click(button, x, y)
-    return {
-        monitor = "terminal",
-        button = button,
-        type = events.click_type.UP,
-        x = x,
-        y = y
-    }
-end
-
--- create a new transposed mouse interaction event using the event's monitor/button fields
----@nodiscard
----@param event mouse_interaction
----@param new_x integer
----@param new_y integer
----@return mouse_interaction
-function events.mouse_transposed(event, new_x, new_y)
-    return {
-        monitor = event.monitor,
-        button = event.button,
-        type = event.type,
-        x = new_x,
-        y = new_y
-    }
-end
-
--- create a new generic mouse interaction event
----@nodiscard
----@param monitor string
----@param button click_button
----@param type click_type
----@param x integer
----@param y integer
----@return mouse_interaction
-function events.mouse_generic(monitor, button, type, x, y)
-    return {
-        monitor = monitor,
-        button = button,
-        type = type,
-        x = x,
-        y = y
-    }
-end
-
+core.flasher = flasher
 core.events = events
 
 -- Core Types
diff --git a/graphics/element.lua b/graphics/element.lua
index 13baec3..2f8dabd 100644
--- a/graphics/element.lua
+++ b/graphics/element.lua
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ function element.new(args)
         id = -1,
         elem_type = debug.getinfo(2).name,
         define_completed = false,
-        p_window = nil, ---@type table
-        position = { x = 1, y = 1 },
+        p_window = nil,                                 ---@type table
+        position = { x = 1, y = 1 },                    ---@type coordinate_2d
         child_offset = { x = 0, y = 0 },
-        bounds = { x1 = 1, y1 = 1, x2 = 1, y2 = 1},
+        bounds = { x1 = 1, y1 = 1, x2 = 1, y2 = 1 },    ---@class element_bounds
         next_y = 1,
         children = {},
         mt = {}
@@ -77,11 +77,22 @@ function element.new(args)
         frame = core.gframe(1, 1, 1, 1)
     }
 
+    local name_brief = "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "}: "
+
     -- element as string
     function self.mt.__tostring()
         return "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "} @ " .. tostring(self)
     end
 
+    -- check if a coordinate is within the bounds of this element
+    ---@param x integer
+    ---@param y integer
+    local function _in_bounds(x, y)
+        local in_x = x >= self.bounds.x1 and x <= self.bounds.x2
+        local in_y = y >= self.bounds.y1 and y <= self.bounds.y2
+        return in_x and in_y
+    end
+
     ---@class graphics_element
     local public = {}
 
@@ -138,10 +149,10 @@ function element.new(args)
         end
 
         -- check frame
-        assert(f.x >= 1, "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "}: frame x not >= 1")
-        assert(f.y >= 1, "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "}: frame y not >= 1")
-        assert(f.w >= 1, "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "}: frame width not >= 1")
-        assert(f.h >= 1, "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "}: frame height not >= 1")
+        assert(f.x >= 1, name_brief .. "frame x not >= 1")
+        assert(f.y >= 1, name_brief .. "frame y not >= 1")
+        assert(f.w >= 1, name_brief .. "frame width not >= 1")
+        assert(f.h >= 1, name_brief .. "frame height not >= 1")
 
         -- create window
         protected.window = window.create(self.p_window, f.x, f.y, f.w, f.h, true)
@@ -252,7 +263,7 @@ function element.new(args)
     end
 
     -- check window
-    assert(self.p_window, "graphics.element{" .. self.elem_type .. "}: no parent window provided")
+    assert(self.p_window, name_brief .. "no parent window provided")
 
     -- prepare the template
     if args.parent == nil then
@@ -421,17 +432,18 @@ function element.new(args)
     -- handle a monitor touch or mouse click
     ---@param event mouse_interaction mouse interaction event
     function public.handle_mouse(event)
-        local in_x = event.x >= self.bounds.x1 and event.x <= self.bounds.x2
-        local in_y = event.y >= self.bounds.y1 and event.y <= self.bounds.y2
+        local x_ini, y_ini, x_cur, y_cur = event.initial.x, event.initial.y, event.current.x, event.current.y
 
-        if in_x and in_y then
-            local event_T = core.events.mouse_transposed(event, (event.x - self.position.x) + 1, (event.y - self.position.y) + 1)
+        local ini_in = _in_bounds(x_ini, y_ini)
+        local cur_in = _in_bounds(x_cur, y_cur)
 
-            -- handle the touch event, transformed into the window frame
+        if ini_in then
+            local event_T = core.events.mouse_transposed(event, self.position.x, self.position.y)
+            if not cur_in then event_T.type = core.events.CLICK_TYPE.EXITED end
+
+            -- handle the mouse event then pass to children
             protected.handle_mouse(event_T)
-
-            -- pass on touch event to children
-            for _, val in pairs(self.children) do val.handle_mouse(event_T) end
+            for _, child in pairs(self.children) do child.handle_mouse(event_T) end
         end
     end
 
diff --git a/graphics/events.lua b/graphics/events.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b5219c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/graphics/events.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+--
+-- Graphics Events and Event Handlers
+--
+
+local util = require("scada-common.util")
+
+local events = {}
+
+---@enum CLICK_BUTTON
+events.CLICK_BUTTON = {
+    GENERIC = 0,
+    LEFT_BUTTON = 1,
+    RIGHT_BUTTON = 2,
+    MID_BUTTON = 3
+}
+
+---@enum CLICK_TYPE
+events.CLICK_TYPE = {
+    TAP = 1,            -- screen tap (complete click)
+    DOWN = 2,           -- button down
+    UP = 3,             -- button up (completed a click)
+    DRAG = 4,           -- mouse dragged
+    SCROLL_DOWN = 5,    -- scroll down
+    SCROLL_UP = 6,      -- scroll up
+    EXITED = 7          -- cursor exited bounds of element
+}
+
+---@class mouse_interaction
+---@field monitor string
+---@field button CLICK_BUTTON
+---@field type CLICK_TYPE
+---@field initial coordinate_2d
+---@field current coordinate_2d
+
+local handler = {
+    button_down = { { 0, 0 }, { 0, 0 }, { 0, 0 } }  -- left, right, middle button down tracking
+}
+
+-- create a new 2D coordinate
+---@param x integer
+---@param y integer
+---@return coordinate_2d
+local function _coord2d(x, y) return { x = x, y = y } end
+
+-- create a new monitor touch mouse interaction event
+---@nodiscard
+---@param monitor string
+---@param x integer
+---@param y integer
+---@return mouse_interaction
+local function _monitor_touch(monitor, x, y)
+    return {
+        monitor = monitor,
+        button = events.CLICK_BUTTON.GENERIC,
+        type = events.CLICK_TYPE.TAP,
+        initial = _coord2d(x, y),
+        current = _coord2d(x, y)
+    }
+end
+
+-- create a new mouse button mouse interaction event
+---@nodiscard
+---@param button CLICK_BUTTON mouse button
+---@param type CLICK_TYPE click type
+---@param x1 integer initial x
+---@param y1 integer initial y
+---@param x2 integer current x
+---@param y2 integer current y
+---@return mouse_interaction
+local function _mouse_event(button, type, x1, y1, x2, y2)
+    return {
+        monitor = "terminal",
+        button = button,
+        type = type,
+        initial = _coord2d(x1, y1),
+        current = _coord2d(x2, y2)
+    }
+end
+
+-- create a new generic mouse interaction event
+---@nodiscard
+---@param type CLICK_TYPE
+---@param x integer
+---@param y integer
+---@return mouse_interaction
+function events.mouse_generic(type, x, y)
+    return {
+        monitor = "",
+        button = events.CLICK_BUTTON.GENERIC,
+        type = type,
+        initial = _coord2d(x, y),
+        current = _coord2d(x, y)
+    }
+end
+
+-- create a new transposed mouse interaction event using the event's monitor/button fields
+---@nodiscard
+---@param event mouse_interaction
+---@param elem_pos_x integer element's x position: new x = (event x - element x) + 1
+---@param elem_pos_y integer element's y position: new y = (event y - element y) + 1
+---@return mouse_interaction
+function events.mouse_transposed(event, elem_pos_x, elem_pos_y)
+    return {
+        monitor = event.monitor,
+        button = event.button,
+        type = event.type,
+        initial = _coord2d((event.initial.x - elem_pos_x) + 1, (event.initial.y - elem_pos_y) + 1),
+        current = _coord2d((event.current.x - elem_pos_x) + 1, (event.current.y - elem_pos_y) + 1)
+    }
+end
+
+-- create a new mouse event to pass onto graphics renderer<br>
+-- supports: mouse_click, mouse_up, mouse_drag, mouse_scroll, and monitor_touch
+---@param event_type os_event OS event to handle
+---@param opt integer|string button, scroll direction, or monitor for monitor touch
+---@param x integer x coordinate
+---@param y integer y coordinate
+---@return mouse_interaction|nil
+function events.new_mouse_event(event_type, opt, x, y)
+    if event_type == "mouse_click" then
+        ---@cast opt 1|2|3
+        handler.button_down[opt] = { x, y }
+        return _mouse_event(opt, events.CLICK_TYPE.DOWN, x, y, x, y)
+    elseif event_type == "mouse_up" then
+        ---@cast opt 1|2|3
+        local initial = handler.button_down[opt]    ---@type coordinate_2d
+        return _mouse_event(opt, events.CLICK_TYPE.UP, initial.x, initial.y, x, y)
+    elseif event_type == "monitor_touch" then
+        ---@cast opt string
+        return _monitor_touch(opt, x, y)
+    elseif event_type == "mouse_drag" then
+        ---@cast opt 1|2|3
+        local initial = handler.button_down[opt]    ---@type coordinate_2d
+        return _mouse_event(opt, events.CLICK_TYPE.DRAG, initial.x, initial.y, x, y)
+    elseif event_type == "mouse_scroll" then
+        ---@cast opt 1|-1
+        local scroll_direction = util.trinary(opt == 1, events.CLICK_TYPE.SCROLL_DOWN, events.CLICK_TYPE.SCROLL_UP)
+        return _mouse_event(events.CLICK_BUTTON.GENERIC, scroll_direction, x, y, x, y)
+    end
+end
+
+-- create a new key event to pass onto graphics renderer<br>
+-- supports: char, key, and key_up
+---@param event_type os_event
+function events.new_key_event(event_type)
+    if event_type == "char" then
+    elseif event_type == "key" then
+    elseif event_type == "key_up" then
+    end
+end
+
+return events
diff --git a/graphics/graphics.lua b/graphics/graphics.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 11b04ff..0000000
--- a/graphics/graphics.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-
-
-local flasher = require("graphics.flasher")
-local core    = require("graphics.core")
-
-local graphics = {}
-
-graphics.flasher = flasher
-
--- pass mouse events to graphics engine
--- supports: mouse_click, mouse_up, mouse_drag, mouse_scroll, and monitor_touch
----@param event_type os_event
-function graphics.handle_mouse(event_type)
-    if event_type == "mouse_click" then
-    elseif event_type == "mouse_up" or event_type == "monitor_touch" then
-    elseif event_type == "mouse_drag" then
-    elseif event_type == "mouse_scroll" then
-    end
-end
-
--- pass char, key, or key_up event to graphics engine
----@param event_type os_event
-function graphics.handle_key(event_type)
-    if event_type == "char" then
-    elseif event_type == "key" then
-    elseif event_type == "key_up" then
-    end
-end
-
-return graphics
diff --git a/scada-common/types.lua b/scada-common/types.lua
index 9beb1e6..8df01c1 100644
--- a/scada-common/types.lua
+++ b/scada-common/types.lua
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ function types.new_radiation_reading(r, u) return { radiation = r, unit = u } en
 ---@return radiation_reading
 function types.new_zero_radiation_reading() return { radiation = 0, unit = "nSv" } end
 
+---@class coordinate_2d
+---@field x integer
+---@field y integer
+
 ---@class coordinate
 ---@field x integer
 ---@field y integer