From desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones, there are a vast number of different devices with varying screen sizes now on the market. So, it is essential that every website adapts and functions for every device. In order for that to happen, website designers use responsive web design.
What is responsive web design?
New devices with different screen sizes are continually being developed and launched. And more devices now come with varying screen resolutions, orientations, and definitions. Therefore, each device needs to be able to handle variations in size and functionality, as well as other elements like colors. And some devices are landscape while others are portrait. Indeed, some devices are entirely square. Devices are increasingly being able to switch from portrait to landscape too.
When a website is being developed, it is crucial that it functions and adapts to each type of device. If it does not, the website owner will lose out on a considerable number of visitors. This is where responsive web design comes in. It enables websites and web pages to render or display on all devices and screen sizes. In a nutshell, responsive web design responds to users’ behaviors and environments based on the size of the screen, platform, and orientation.
To ensure your website is responsive, it’s likely you will need the services of a professional web design company. Parachute, who provide web design in Toronto, highlight that optimizing user experience (of which responsive web design plays a significant part) is key to attracting and retaining customers and building a reputable brand image in the long-term.
How does responsive web design work?
Responsive web design works via professional web developers using a mix of flexible grids and layouts, as well as images and intelligent use of Cascading Style Sheets, such as media queries and viewport. By using various settings, a web designer will style properties dependent on the size of screens, resolution, orientation, color capability, and other characteristics.
As a user switches from a laptop to a smartphone, the website should automatically change to accommodate things like resolution, scripting abilities, and image size. A good responsive-web-design also uses technology that automatically responds to users’ preferences. For example, if someone uses a VPN for his laptop, the website should not block the user’s access to the web pages.
Using responsive web design eliminates the need for different design developments for each new device and gadget on the market. So, it not only benefits website users. Responsive web design is also mightily advantageous to website designers and owners. The process saves a lot of time, and therefore it saves a lot of money. And the more professional and functional a website is, the more it will attract visitors and convert them into customers.
Other Benefits of Responsive Web Design
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, other responsive web design advantages include: there is no need for redirects. Without responsive web design, the other options for designing websites for multiple devices involve the use of redirects to send the user to the applicable version of a web page.
With redirects out of the way, users can access content as quickly as possible. Responsive web design is also effective because it is easier to manage. That is because it is one site rather than two or more. Therefore, you do not have to make changes more than once. Instead, you can work from a single website to make changes across all devices.
Interesting related article: “Starting your own web design business.”