This doesn't disable the swipe gestures, so you can still swipe up or down to access the app drawer in addition to using the button. (sammobile.com)
The default home screen setup allows users to swipe up on the display to access the apps drawer without tapping an icon. (ibtimes.com)
If you prefer the traditional button in the home screen dock (the bottom-most row of icons) for accessing the app drawer, you can enable it in the Home screen section of the Display menu in the phone's settings. (sammobile.com)