What does adaptive web design or adaptive website layout mean
Responsive web design is a type of web page design that ensures the correct display of a website on devices with different screen sizes.
This means that the same website can be viewed on any device, regardless of screen resolution and format. The main feature is that viewing will be equally convenient for all users. This means that when viewing the site, there will be no need to expand individual areas to click on the desired link.
The main purpose of responsive design is to create a web page and display its content based on the parameters of the device on which it is viewed.
Why is responsive web design necessary?
Increase in the number of devices with Internet access
Today, there is a huge variety of devices that users use to access the Internet. These devices differ in screen size, resolution, and how they display web pages. That is why it is important that your website displays perfectly on any user's device.
The growing popularity of mobile devices with internet access and mobile internet traffic
Recently, the popularity of mobile devices used by users to access the Internet has grown significantly, so they cannot be ignored, as they no longer represent just a few people, but a significant part of your audience. Therefore, each of them should feel comfortable on your website, otherwise they will simply stop using it.
Quick information
If you are the owner of a news website, there is a high probability that users will need to read the news or an article immediately, and they only have their phone at hand. This means that you need to make sure in advance that it is convenient for them to perform the desired action without any difficulties.
The main differences between a mobile version of a website and an adaptive website
Mobile versions of websites and mobile applications, which are specially designed for various mobile devices, can make browsing a website convenient and enjoyable. However, they have certain disadvantages:
A separate application or version of the website must be created for each type of operating system, which means using additional resources, i.e. money and time.
The need to download the application. In order for a user to use your application, they will need to download it to their gadget. Consequently, this requires additional
effort from the user, so most will not take such actions unless they are confident that they need the application and intend to use it regularly.
Traffic separation. The main inconvenience of a mobile app is that all of the resource's traffic is divided into two ‘streams’ — website traffic and app traffic. This means that the website's traffic will be significantly lower than before the mobile app was created.
The need to integrate website content. If a mobile app is used, then it is necessary to synchronise the website with the app (which will require the use of additional resources), or to do double the work, which means filling the website and the app with the same content.
The main difference between responsive design is that the website will have one address, one design, one management system and one content.
Yes, responsive design also has certain disadvantages, the main one being the novelty of the technology, which implies a lack of highly qualified specialists and the necessary knowledge.
Principles of responsive design
The first step in developing a responsive design is to create a responsive version of the website for mobile devices. At this stage, designers are faced with the task of conveying the meaning and main ideas using a small screen and a single button. In this case, the content of the website can be reduced, with secondary blocks being removed, leaving only the most important information.
• Creating a project for mobile devices from the early stages (‘mobile first’).
• Using a flexible layout based on a grid (flexible, grid-based layout).
• Using flexible images.
• Working with media queries.
• Continuous and consistent improvement.
Main types of responsive layouts
Today, there are five types of responsive layouts:
• Rubber
This layout is very simple to implement and its principle of operation is clear to every user. This layout involves compressing the site to the width of the mobile device screen; in some cases, all information is arranged in a single long strip.
• Block transfer
This layout is the simplest and can be used for multi-column websites. In it, when the screen size is reduced, all blocks are ‘lined up’ at the bottom of the layout.
• Switching between layouts
This option is most convenient when viewing a website from different devices. In this case, a specific layout is created for each screen resolution. This work takes time and effort, so this type of layout is not very popular.
• Minimal adaptability
A simple method that is suitable for uncomplicated websites. To view the website in this layout, only the scale of images and typography is changed. This layout is not popular because it lacks flexibility.
• Panels
This layout was previously used in mobile applications, where an additional menu appears when you tap horizontally or vertically. The main disadvantage of this layout is that it is unclear to the user how to use it. However, over time, this layout may become very popular.
When choosing adaptive design, it is important to remember that the layouts presented above cannot be considered a universal tool suitable for all web resources. For each project, it is necessary to select the most suitable layout that will fully possess the necessary capabilities and satisfy all the needs of users and developers.
