The Evolution of Responsive Design

The Evolution of Responsive Design RACHEL ANDREW AT SMASHING MEETS JUNE 2020

How do we support all these different screen sizes?

Fluid Grids https://alistapart.com/article/fluidgrids/

target ÷ context = result

Flexible Images https://alistapart.com/article/fluid-images/

max-width: 100%

Media Queries How big is this viewport?

Responsive Web Design • Calculating percentages for floated layouts • Squishing images • Leaning on Media Queries

column-count: 3

Flexbox responds to the content

display: flex

Flexbox is one-dimensional

flex-wrap: wrap

flex: 0 0 32%

What does it mean to respond to content?

flex-basis: auto max-content

flex-basis: auto Space reduced from max-content until all boxes fit

We don’t have to line everything up. Sometimes what we need is just to make things fit nicely.

CSS Grid For when you do want to line everything up.

.grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(12, 1fr); }

repeat(12, 1fr)

.grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(12, minmax(auto, 1fr)); }

repeat(12, 1fr)

.grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(12, minmax(0, 1fr)); }

repeat(12, minmax(0,1fr))

Responding to content in a grid layout world

auto

grid-template-columns: repeat(3, auto)

justify-content: start

repeat(12, 1fr)

flex-basis: auto repeat(3, 1fr)

min-content, max-content, fitcontent Directing content-based sizing

repeat(3, min-content)

repeat(3, max-content)

repeat(3, fit-content(400px)) max-content 400px

.media { display: grid; grid-template-columns: fit-content(300px) 1fr; gap: 20px; }

Flexible images More than just max-width: 100%

Responsive Images

Solving the janky images problem Mapping HTML attributes width and height to an aspect ratio.

It’s time to start using the width and height attributes on the <img> element again

Media Queries

column-width: 200px

flex-wrap: wrap

repeat(auto-fill, minmax(200px, 1fr)

The first rule of Media Queries is … Do I need a media query?

.wrapper { display: grid; grid-template-areas: “hd” “bd” “sd” “ft”; }

@media (min-width: 600px) { .wrapper { grid-template-columns: 3fr 1fr; grid-template-areas: “hd hd” “bd sd” “ft ft”; } }

More than just screen size What else could we respond to?

What type of pointer do I have?

@media (pointer:coarse) { .pointer::before { content: “You have a coarse pointer”; } } @media (pointer:fine) { .pointer::before { content: “You have a fine pointer”; } }

Can I hover?

@media (hover) { .can-i-hover::after { content: “You look like you can hover.”; } } @media (hover:none) { .can-i-hover::after { content: “I don’t think you can hover.”; } }

@media (any-pointer:coarse) { .any-pointer::before { content: “One of your pointers is coarse. Yo ur device has a touchscreen, though you might not be using it.”; } }

“ Designing a page that relies on hovering or accurate pointing only because any-hover or any-pointer indicate that at least one of the available input mechanisms has these capabilities is likely to result in a poor experience. ” Media Queries Level 4 https://drafts.csswg.org/mediaqueries-4/#any-input

Testing capabilities Check for screen size, but also pointer type and hover ability to understand the environment your site is being used in.

Overflow detection Display Quality Media Queries

@media (overflow-block: paged) { /* CSS for paged media */ }

Responding to the wishes of the visitor Media Queries Level 5 and User Preference Media Features

prefers-reduced-motion

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .animation { animation: none; } }

prefers-color-scheme

@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { body { background: #333; color: white; } }

prefers-reduced-data

@media (prefers-reduced-data: reduce) { /* CSS loading in smaller images */ }

Feature Queries What does this browser support?

@supports (display: grid) { .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); } }

What does it mean to do responsive design today?

Respond to content

Use new layout and image features

Use media features to enhance your site.

It’s not about screen size

Responding to needs and environment

Stop expecting people to fix something to use your website. Respond to meet them where they are.

Thank you! https://noti.st/rachelandrew