Key Takeaways
- To create a responsive, mobile-friendly website, apply CSS rules step-by-step for each element of the website layout, starting from the top and moving to the bottom.
- Use margins, width percentages, and specific id and class rules to style elements such as banners, newsletter boxes, and navigation bars.
- To manage fonts in the CSS stylesheet, remember that Internet Explorer requires a different format for the fonts, that is “eot”.
- CSS3 rules such as “shadow” allow designers to easily implement multiple drop shadows (outer or inner) on box elements, specifying values for color, size, blur and offset.
#banner
{
width: 100%;
margin-top: 0.2em;
}
These first rules simple enough to understand. To space the banner from the top of the browser window we’re applying a margin of 0.2em and to let our banner-image cover all the width of our browser’s window, we’ve set the corresponding rule with a percentage of 100.
Let’s go on with the rules for styling our newsletter-box. In this case we have to pay attention for the rules to put on the id and the ones to consider for the class since I have decided, for personal clarity, to not choose different names for elements that substantially indicate the same part. So, for the class we set a background color (which will be the color of the box and a margin-top of 0.2 em–you’ll find out why it’s better to use these kind of measurements for a responsive website in this article, which will give you a short overview on the most common units used in Web Design) to slightly space the newsletter-box from the banner above.
The id “newsletter-box”, that is the space where we’ll find the input field and the submit button, has three simple rules, to define the spacing with the box that contains the above-mentioned elements. As you can see, there’s an id (“mobile-newsletter-box”) that seems to be inappropriate to the version we’re analysing. Actually, it’s not so: since there’ll be a change of view when passing from a pc-desktop version to a tablet version or a mobile-phone one, we have to “suggest” to our stylesheet how to perform and display the page elements.
In this case, as you’ll see in the next article when we’ll discuss about the rules to set thinking responsively, the disposition of all the elements characterizing the newsletter bar will totally change. What we have to do now is avoid having the mobile-display shown in the pc-desktop version. To achieve this result, we simply set to the rule “display” the none parameter.
A nice effect I’d like to talk about is the transition I have applied to the white box where the user inserts his e-mail to receive news. Setting to the element a transition, the resulting effect is an enlargement of the box; the other thing I’ve done is to indicate the time that this has to last. This is a CSS3 rule that creates a simple and light movement with a very pleasant output.
The last rule to discuss is the width applied when the newsletter box is clicked: setting this to 17em, the box will appear larger than usual.
.newsletter-box
{
background-color: #c32526;
margin-top: 0.2em;
}
#newsletter-box
{
margin-top: 0.5em;
height: 1.8em;
padding: 0.3em;
}
#mobile-newsletter-box
{
display: none;
}
#newsletter-email
{
width: 12em;
-webkit-transition: all 1s;
-moz-transition: width 1s;
-o-transition: width 1s;
-ms-transition: width 1s;
transition: width 1s;
}
#newsletter-email:focus
{
width: 17em;
}
Let’s go on now analyzing our navigation bar. To delete the default bullet points of our menu list, we set the parameter to none, while to center it we recourse to the well-known rule “text-align: center”. Then we change the padding and the margin rules to the size that seems to be appropriate for our purpose. To let the elements of the list appear one after another horizontally, we change the display from the default setting “block” to “inline” and also, in this case, specify the margin parameters.
Now, it’s time to have a look at the rules applied to the link elements: as font, I’ve chosen “Bebas Neue” (you can download it here
). I’ve set a font-size of 1.3 em, removed the underlining with the rule “text-decoration: none” and set the color I preferred. This color changes when the cursor moves on the menu items and, moreover, when the user clicks on the link of the page he desires to visit, there’s a 3D effect, and you can obtain it setting the rule “position: relative” on the menu links and the parameters top and left on the active state of the same element. In this way, you’ll have a slight movement that will give you the impression of a clickable 3D button.
ul.menu-list
{
list-style-type: none;
padding: 0;
margin: 1em 0em;
text-align: center;
}
li.menu-item
{
display: inline;
margin: 0em 1.5em;
}
a.menu-item-link
{
font-family: "Bebas Neue",Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size: 1.3em;
text-decoration: none;
color: #c31f05;
position: relative;
}
a.menu-item-link:hover
{
color: #000000;
}
a.menu-item-link:active
{
top: 0.1em;
left: 0.1em;
}
#menu-select
{
display: none;
}
Now, move on to the general part, that is on the rules applied to elements such as heading, paragraphs, images, boxes appearance and so on. Here is the code with the specifications of the rules for the layout I have thought out, planned and realized.
body
{
max-width: 1024px;
margin: 0 auto;
font-family: "Cwmagic",Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;
background-color: #E3E3E3;
font-size: 1.2em;
line-height: 1.5em;
}
img
{
border: 0em;
}
h1,
h2,
h3
{
text-align: center;
}
.float-left
{
float: left;
}
.float-right
{
float: right;
}
.clear-both
{
clear: both;
}
.shadow
{
-webkit-box-shadow: 0.4em 0.4em 0.2em #5C5B5B;
-moz-box-shadow: 0.4em 0.4em 0.2em #5C5B5B;
-o-box-shadow: 0.4em 0.4em 0.2em #5C5B5B;
-ms-box-shadow: 0.4em 0.4em 0.2em #5C5B5B;
box-shadow: 0.4em 0.4em 0.2em #5C5B5B;
margin-right: 0.4em !important;
}
.long-box,
.small-box
{
background-color: #cdcdcd;
padding: 0em 0.3em;
margin: 0em;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.small-box
{
width: 47%;
}
p
{
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 0.5em;
}
I won’t explain the rules one by one as for the first part, especially because they are almost all the same. The only thing to which I’d like you’d pay attention is the classes float left, float right and clear both; in fact, I’ve preferred to create a class which “identifies” these rules and applies them to the elements in the HTML code rather than repeating the elements. Another element worthy of note is the CSS3 rule “shadow“.
This property allows designers to easily implement multiple drop shadows (outer or inner) on box elements, specifying values for color, size, blur and offset. It can accept a comma-separated list of shadows, each defined by 2-4 length values (specifying in order the horizontal offset, vertical offset, optional blur distance and optional spread distance of the shadow), an optional color value and an optional ‘inset‘ keyword (to create an inner shadow, rather than the default outer shadow). Browser support is growing of late with Mozilla (Firefox), Webkit (Safari/Chrome/Konqueror), Opera and the IE9 Platform Preview all offering a decent implementation of the specification.Let’s conclude this article with the rules applied to elements present in the footer, that is the footer itself and the bar containing the icons for the linking to the most important social networks’ profile.
#main-footer
{
background-color: #c32526;
text-align: center;
}
.social-bar a
{
text-decoration: none;
margin-right: 3em;
}
Finally, let’s see how to manage fonts in the CSS stylesheet, bearing in mind that Internet Explorer requires a different format for the fonts, that is “eot”. Here is the code.
/*
***********************************
FONT FOR INTERNET EXPLORER
***********************************
*/
@font-face
{
font-family: "Bebas Neue";
src: url(../css/bebasneue.eot);
}
@font-face
{
font-family: "Palatino Linotype";
src: url(../css/pala.eot);
}
/*
***********************************
FONT FOR OTHER BROWSERS
***********************************
*/
@font-face
{
font-family: "Bebas Neue";
src:
local("Bebas Neue"),
local("Bebas Neue"),
url("../css/bebasneue.ttf");
}
@font-face
{
font-family: "Palatino Linotype";
src:
local("Palatino Linotype"),
local("Palatino Linotype"),
url("../css/pala.ttf");
}
Conclusion
In this article we’ve seen the basic rules to create a simple layout for a website. After concentrating on the pc-desktop version, in the next part we’ll see which are the rules to apply to make this layout responsive.Frequently Asked Questions on Building a Responsive Mobile-Friendly Website from Scratch
What is the importance of media queries in creating a responsive website?
Media queries are a crucial aspect of responsive web design. They allow the application of different CSS styles to different devices based on characteristics like screen size and resolution. This means you can design a website to look a certain way on a desktop, and then use media queries to adjust the design for smaller screens like tablets and smartphones. This ensures that your website is user-friendly and visually appealing on all devices.
How can I make my website look good on both phones and tablets?
To make your website look good on both phones and tablets, you need to implement responsive design principles. This involves using flexible layouts, flexible images, and CSS media queries. Flexible layouts use percentages to define widths instead of fixed units, allowing the layout to resize with the screen. Flexible images are also sized in relative units to prevent them from displaying outside their containing element. CSS media queries then apply different styles for different devices, ensuring your website looks good on all screen sizes.
What is the difference between mobile-friendly and responsive design?
While both terms are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference. A mobile-friendly website is one that displays correctly on smaller screens, typically by having a separate mobile version. On the other hand, a responsive website not only displays correctly on all devices but also responds and adapts to the screen size, providing an optimal viewing experience. This means that a responsive design is always mobile-friendly, but a mobile-friendly design is not necessarily responsive.
How can I test the responsiveness of my website?
There are several ways to test the responsiveness of your website. One simple method is to resize your browser window and see how your website adjusts. You can also use online tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test or Responsive Design Checker. These tools allow you to see how your website looks on different devices and screen sizes.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when creating a responsive website?
Some common mistakes to avoid include not designing for all screen sizes, using too many media queries, not optimizing images for different devices, and not testing your website on actual devices. It’s also important to consider the user experience on different devices, ensuring that your website is not only visually appealing but also easy to navigate and use on all screens.
How can I optimize images for a responsive website?
To optimize images for a responsive website, you should use flexible images that are sized in relative units. This prevents them from displaying outside their containing element. You can also use CSS to control the maximum width of the image, ensuring it scales down on smaller screens. Additionally, consider using responsive image techniques like srcset and sizes to serve different images based on the screen size and resolution.
Can I use frameworks to create a responsive website?
Yes, you can use frameworks like Bootstrap or Foundation to create a responsive website. These frameworks provide pre-written CSS that makes it easier to implement responsive design principles. However, it’s still important to understand the underlying concepts of responsive design, as this will give you more control over your website’s design and performance.
How does responsive design affect SEO?
Responsive design can have a positive impact on SEO. Google has stated that it prefers responsive design over separate mobile versions of websites. This is because responsive websites have one URL and the same HTML, making it easier for Google to crawl and index the site. Additionally, a responsive website provides a better user experience, which can lead to lower bounce rates and higher engagement, both of which can positively affect SEO.
What is the role of CSS in responsive design?
CSS plays a crucial role in responsive design. It allows you to control the layout, fonts, colors, and other visual elements of your website. More importantly, it enables you to use media queries to apply different styles for different devices, making your website responsive. Without CSS, creating a responsive website would be much more difficult.
How can I learn more about responsive design?
There are many resources available to learn more about responsive design. Websites like W3Schools and FreeCodeCamp offer tutorials and guides on the topic. You can also find many books, online courses, and blog posts that cover responsive design in depth. Additionally, practicing by building your own responsive website is a great way to learn and improve your skills.
I have a Bachelor's degree in European languages, cultures, and literature from the University of Naples. I'm passionate about graphics and web design, and for several years I've been working on projects and designs for many companies. I'm a writer for the Audero User Group; my specialties are HTML, CSS, Web Design, and Adobe Photoshop.