It’s an innovative approach to website design that makes web pages load quickly and appear responsive to a variety of screen and device resolutions. In contrast to the traditional model, where all web pages were created with the same layout, JavaScript techniques are used to determine which elements should be displayed in certain positions or within specific sections of a page. This results in a web page which has a consistent appearance across different types of display devices, but responds to the user’s actions more intelligently. Responsive web design considers the viewer’s position in space as part of the viewing environment as an exciting extension to RWD. For help with Web Design Swansea, visit Accent ADC
So what is responsive web design? Responsive design is a flexible approach to designing websites, where elements of different sizes are made to appear as if they are part of the original element when viewed on a certain size screen or a certain width. This enables a site to be viewed correctly on high-definition televisions, mobile phones and tablets. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking to create a unique online presence and increase your brand awareness among your target audience, then you should consider investing in a responsive web design for your next website project. This can help you ensure that your website appears exactly the way that your target audience expects it to, and it can also help you tap into new markets.
The advantages of implementing responsive web design in your website are many. First and foremost, the design will be correctly displayed on all screen sizes and device resolutions so that your users never miss a single thing that they want to see. It can enhance the performance and user experience of your site and improve the overall efficiency of your website.
Why responsive design beats a separate mobile site
Phones now do far more than calls and texts. Many people use them as a diary, camera, address book and entertainment centre, and Ofcom has reported that smartphones overtook laptops as the UK’s most popular device for going online. A traditional site is awkward on a small screen, forcing visitors to zoom and drag the page around, and pinch to zoom is no substitute for proper design. Because people shop on their phones too, a site that is hard to use on mobile loses business.
One fix is to run two sites, with code that detects the device and serves the matching version, but then two sites have to be kept up to date. Plug-ins for platforms such as WordPress or Joomla can also help, though they are more of a stopgap.
Responsive design is the better long-term answer. It caters for mobile from the start, adapts to larger screens with extra content, and keeps the site familiar to visitors who switch between devices.
Benefits of designing for every screen
A responsive site brings practical benefits. Google favours sites that load quickly and display well on all devices, which can mean more organic traffic, and the page experience increasingly affects whether a site appears in search results. Visitors also find a responsive site easier to move around once they arrive.
It saves time and money too. Building separate versions for each screen size would be slow and still leave gaps, whereas a single responsive design lets designers focus on quality.
The aim is not to perfect a site for one screen. Most searches now happen on mobile phones, and even a single phone brand changes its screen size between models, so some designers test on as many as 14 sizes. Thinking about the target audience and the devices they use helps make sure the site displays correctly wherever it is viewed.
Why one responsive site beats a separate mobile site
Mobile sites used to be an afterthought. Now smartphones and tablets account for a large share of web traffic, and viewing a site on them is very different from using a desktop computer. Responsive design uses CSS media queries to detect basic details of the visitor’s device and rearranges and resizes page elements so each visitor gets a layout suited to their screen.
Many businesses once ran a separate mobile site alongside their main one. That approach can cause SEO trouble, as you have to work to avoid the two versions being treated as duplicate content. The bigger problem is practicality. Screens now range from small phones to large tablets, and no single mobile site can look right across that range.
Because so many visitors arrive on mobile devices, giving them a good experience is essential for any site that wants to make a good impression. A single responsive site does that without the cost of maintaining two.