Responsive Web Design - What You need to Know

Responsive web design, also sometimes referred to as “responsible web design”, is a practice in the web development community that strives to make websites compatible on all devices. With new technology becoming available all the time, many people obtain the latest devices immediately while millions more are still using various forms of older technology. Furthermore, manufacturers are constantly producing devices that are very different in size and capability, meaning that each device displays content differently. Responsive web design ensures that a user will see the same content and have the same level of accessibility to a website no matter what size their screen is or what kind of device they are using to view the website.

Accessibility

The most important aspect of responsive web design is accessibility. This means that a website should be able to automatically adjust its size and layout to fit the dimensions of any screen, whether the website is viewed on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. While studies have shown that most people set the screen resolution on their computer to 1024 x 768, many people either choose to set their resolution to a different scale or simply don’t have the option to make that kind of choice. Tablet and smartphone users, for example, are stuck with whatever dimensions the device is capable of. By designing websites that are capable of adjusting to fit the user’s screen size rather than trying to make a website that is compatible with the most popular screen resolutions, webmasters can ensure that all visitors get the same experience.

User Interaction

Another aspect of responsive web design involves maximizing user interaction. For example, if a user is visiting a website on his/her smartphone, the user should be able to click on links and other media at the touch of a finger. Navigational menus should also be designed in a way that they can fit on even the smallest screen sizes without losing the visual appeal of the website.

Content Consumption

Content consumption refers to the desire of visitors to get the most amount of information as possible as quickly as possible. Content consumption is an important factor in responsive web design because mobile users may not have access to the same screen landscape as their computer-based counterparts. While many web designers make up for this fact by providing different content to mobile users, responsive web design tells us that the best way to build websites is by providing the same content to all users, but in different ways.

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