The fact that your website will seem different in different browsers, and on various devices, is something we all must accept. A variation in layout design is where the layout adjusts to fit the user's preference. The different types of responsive layouts: fixed, fluid, and adaptive have a different sets of advantages and disadvantages, so your web design company needs to know how use them wisely.
The variations in layouts are described below.
Responsive design
Google promotes and supports responsive web design (RWD). Google's algorithm is always evolving to accommodate the rising number of mobile users, thus how mobile-friendly a website is also taken into account when calculating search engine results. If your website is not created using RWD, it may wind up at the bottom of the pile.
Aside from rankings, responsive design could result in increased earnings by ensuring that your website gives an excellent user experience that makes people want to visit it. To make the design responsive element like SVG icons with good rendering speed and high on quality is used.
The responsive design combines the best of both worlds of fluid and flexible design.
There are various so-called breakpoints that split all potential screen sizes into ranges. The layout of the interface varies based on the screen size. Elements will also extend or shrink according on the screen size. Responsive design gives a tailored experience for every screen size.
Your audience doesn't anticipate a 'lesser' experience, or fewer functionalities, simply because they're accessing your website through their mobile device. RWD is usually the simplest way to go when having a web design company design your website. Because of its flexibility to retrofit, adaptable would most likely be a better solution for sites that currently only have a website built for desktop size browsers.
Adaptive Web Design
The term "adaptive layout" refers to several variants of the layout that are displayed according on the viewer's screen size.AWD recognizes screen size and then selects the suitable static layout from a library of choices. There are six basic screen sizes that span the majority of the ways a user may see a website; therefore, all AWD websites should have at least these six options. Although designing different widths for a single website may appear to be more labor, it can improve overall website speed.
The advantages of having an AWD site are that you can track which views and resolution options are doing well and then adjust the design and development for the sizes that are receiving the most traffic. For example, if your site receives the bulk of its traffic via desktop, you should optimize the site's performance, usability, aesthetics, media and SVG icons load time (if relevant) for that user experience. By concentrating your efforts on your top objectives, adaptive design may help you save money and time.
Fluid Web Design
Fluid layout allows you to define sizes in percentages rather than pixels. That is, even if the screen size varies, the percentage of items remains constant.
Fluid design is as adaptable as responsive and adaptive sites, but it does not rely on fixed components. Instead, it consumes the same proportion of space regardless of the screen you're viewing the site on. As a result, it is always able to fill the width of a page. When a customer switches from one gadget to another, it might feel more natural. However, depending on the size of the browser, it might provide difficulties.
The disadvantage is that the columns might become quite thin on smaller displays. Assume you're reading a multi-column web layout on a smaller device, such as a smartphone or tablet. The text may appear cluttered and difficult to read.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you're viewing the website on a huge desktop or a smart TV, the material may appear stretched. The aesthetics and features of a website will influence fluid design, including how the amount of white space will vary depending on the size of the screen you're viewing the website on.
One of the advantages of the fluid design is that it is user-friendly. This is a more adaptable layout than a set one. But that only appears to be a decent alternative when contrasted with the worse option.
In Summary
Whatever design you select, each designer will have a slightly different perspective on responsive vs adaptable design, or even why fluid is equivalent to both. Whatever you choose, bear in mind the primary goals of intended functionality, mobile flexibility, and overall user experience.
Author's Bio
This guest post was written by Olivia Welsh, a freelance professional creative writer, currently working with a start-up venture that provides free vector icons to users. It offers its services to graphic designers, visual designers, UI/UX designers and developers. The team is dedicated to delivering high-quality content.
