Many people will probably already be familiar with "Responsive Design", as we encounter it almost daily in the field of digital communication. Since March 2021, it has even been a basic requirement for a website to be listed on Google at all. Google calls this measure "Mobile-Only", which is the next step after the "Mobile-First" indexing process introduced in 2017. But what exactly is "Responsive Design"? Why is it so important, where does it apply, and how does it work?

 

 

What is Responsive Design?

 

Briefly explained: Responsive Design describes the ability of a website or application to adapt its user interface to the resolution of the screen of an end device. So if you call up an optimized website via mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, the display automatically adapts to the size of the screen to be at least as clear as on the large screen of a PC.

 

 

Why is Responsive Design so important?

 

Since the beginning of the commercial Internet, the design of a website has generally been based on the display and resolution of a desktop, or PC screen. Websites were implemented in such a way that they could be accessed as clearly and attractively as possible via a PC. But in the last few years, mobile devices have become more and more present and in many countries it is impossible to imagine a website without them. In some cases, they are the only way used to access the Internet. This makes Responsive Design elementary for operators of a website to be able to present it as appealing as possible and to be accessible from everywhere.

 

 

How does Responsive Design work?

 

Responsive Design is created by the appropriate use of the programming language "CSS". Basically, when a website is implemented, it is defined exactly how it should behave at certain resolutions and screen sizes. This ensures that a website is displayed appropriately and clearly on a smartphone as well as on a large screen.