CSS Mobile-first Design

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Mobile-first refers to a design technique in which you start building the website for mobile devices and then use media queries to create larger layouts for other devices (tablets, desktops).

 

Essentially, the design and development process begins with creating a mobile-friendly version of the website. The primary aim of this method is to make your website work well on small screens.

 

What is Mobile-First Design?

Mobile-first design means designing the user experience and layout of a website with mobile users in mind.

 

The core design concept is that you ensure the design works well on small devices, then you add the extra styles for larger screen sizes (tablets, desktops).

 

  • Mobile-First: The default CSS is written for mobile devices, and then additional styles are added as the screen size increases.
  • Progressive Enhancement: The design is built with the most basic, functional elements first and then additional features and styles are added as needed, depending on the device and browser used to access the website.

Mobile-First Approach with CSS

  • Write your default CSS for mobile devices (small screens)
  • Add media queries for larger devices (tablets, desktops)

In other words, you start with styles for mobile devices (essential styles) and then add more advanced styles for other devices (larger screens).

 

Basic Mobile-First CSS Example

Here is an example of a mobile-first design layout that starts with some basic styles for small screens and then progressively adds improvements for larger screens.

 

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Mobile-First Design Example</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
  <header>
    <h1>Mobile-First Design</h1>
  </header>
  <main>
    <section class="content">
      <p>This is a mobile-first design example.</p>
    </section>
  </main>
</body>
</html>
Run ›

Key Principles of Mobile-First Design

Start with Mobile Layout

Start by designing for the smallest screen size, typically mobile devices (320px to 480px wide). This allows you to focus on essential elements first, ensuring a smooth experience for mobile users.

 

Use Relative Units (em, rem, %, vh, vw)

Instead of using fixed units like px, use relative units such as em, rem, %, vh, and vw. This helps in maintaining scalability and ensures elements adjust properly to different screen sizes.

 

  • rem and em: For font sizing, margins, and padding.
  • %: For widths and heights of elements.
  • vh/vw: For responsive design based on viewport height and width.

Mobile-First Media Queries

  • Write default styles for mobile devices (this is the starting point).
  • Use media queries with min-width to adjust styles for larger screens. This way, the base styles are optimized for small screens and only enhanced for larger devices.
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