Handling Different Screen Sizes with CSS

Tutorial 3 of 5

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore how to handle different screen sizes using CSS. By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to create responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes using CSS techniques such as media queries, flexbox, and grid.

To make the most out of this tutorial, you should have a basic understanding of HTML and CSS.

Step-by-Step Guide

Media Queries

Media queries are a feature of CSS that allow you to apply different styles for different media types and screen sizes.

@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
  body {
    background-color: blue;
  }
}

In the above example, the background color of the body will change to blue when the screen width is less than or equal to 600px.

Flexbox

Flexbox is a CSS module that provides a more efficient way to layout, align and distribute space among items in a container.

.container {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

In the above example, we set the display of the container to flex which allows us to use flex properties. The flex-wrap: wrap; property ensures that the items in the container wrap onto multiple lines.

Grid

The CSS Grid Layout Module offers a grid-based layout system, with rows and columns, making it easier to design web pages.

.container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(200px, 1fr));
}

In the above example, we set the display of the container to grid which allows us to use grid properties. The grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(200px, 1fr)); property ensures that each grid item is at least 200px wide and the remaining space is distributed evenly.

Code Examples

Let's create a responsive navigation bar using the techniques we've learned.

<html>
<head>
<style>
  .nav {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-around;
    background-color: #333;
  }

  .nav a {
    color: white;
    padding: 14px 20px;
    text-decoration: none;
  }

  @media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
    .nav {
      flex-direction: column;
    }
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="nav">
    <a href="#">Home</a>
    <a href="#">About</a>
    <a href="#">Contact</a>
  </div>
</body>
</html>

In this example, the navigation bar is horizontal on large screens and becomes vertical on screens smaller than 600px.

Summary

In this tutorial, we've learned how to handle different screen sizes using CSS via media queries, flexbox, and grid. You can now create responsive designs that adapt to any screen size. To continue learning, explore more about these topics and practice creating your own responsive designs.

Practice Exercises

Create a responsive grid layout that changes from a 3-column layout to a 1-column layout when the screen size is less than 600px.
Create a responsive image gallery using flexbox that wraps images onto the next line when there is not enough space.
Create a responsive header that changes its background color and alignment of items when the screen size is less than 500px.

Remember, practice is key when it comes to mastering responsive web design. Don't shy away from experimenting with different layouts and screen sizes!