Back Tap, a new iOS 14 feature, is now available in the beta version of Apple's latest operating system for the iPhone. In short, it is a new customizable shortcut accessible by double- or triple-tapping the back of the iPhone.

As Federico Viticci and others reported on Twitter (via The Verge), Back Tap is one of many features Apple added to the iOS 14 beta, but it did not share the spotlight during yesterday's WWDC keynote. Here is how Back Tap works and what it can do.

Within the Accessibility Options section of the Settings app, there is a Back Tap feature that allows users to register custom actions. There is a wide range of tasks that can be performed with a tap. You can take a screenshot, change the volume, lock the phone, or perform other functions, or launch a specific app or shortcut with a command.

According to one Twitter user, Back Tap can be programmed to launch a variety of apps. This includes Google Assistant. He demonstrated double tapping the back of an iPhone and using Google Assistant to play music on a Sonos speaker.

Other uses of Back Tap include turning on/off lights in the home, which is possible by integrating Back Tap with Shortcuts and Apple's HomeKit.

According to several users, the Back Tap feature works even when using an iPhone case, which is good news for those who were concerned that the iPhone's protective cover would prevent this feature from working. However, this means that Back Tap is too easy to use, and one could accidentally take a screenshot or launch an app while the phone is in a pocket or bag.

We'll have to wait and see if this feature makes it past beta and what state it will be in on most users' iPhones when the stable version of iOS 14 is released this fall. But it is certainly a sensible idea.