I am working on a simple html 5 game similar to http://www.ebaumsworld.com/games/play/80617036/.
I need to make the game responsive and I wanted to ask if I should go use CSS media queries or if I should just go for a percentage-based lay-out using percentage dimensions for the width and height of elements.
Which would the best way to go?
The difference between a fluid lay-out and the use of media queries has been written out here: https://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/24406/what-is-the-exact-difference-between-fluid-and-responsive-design
A fluid or percentage-based lay-out is used when the lay-out should be similar on every screen. It keeps the same spatial weighing for all elements, regardless of the screen size.
Responsive design (media queries) is used to change the lay-out on different screen sizes.
From the limited information available on what you're trying to achieve, I would opt for a combination of both. Use percentage-based dimensions for sizing, and use media queries to ensure that the blocks don't cover 90% of a 32" screen for instance...
Related
Do you still need media queries to make website responsive when you have already used flex box? Are there any instances where media queries give us better control?
Yes there are a lot of things where you would still use media-queries.
You would probably want to switch from flex-basis: 200px; to a more flexible flex-basis: 50%; width on mobiles.
A combination of both is probably best.
If you are working with percentages and wan't a different column count on smaller devices there is imho no way around media queries.
Flex-box and Grid Layout, along with Multi-column layout are responsive by default. These specifications were written in a world where responsive design and supporting multiple devices was already a thing. This means that they include a lot of common sense functionality, which enables responsive design without us needing to do much.
If we want to change the size or proportions of some columns, we have to add a break-point using a Media Query and redefine them. We have no other options when working in percentages, as they will always be the same percentage of the container they are in, whether that container is wide or narrow.
FlexBox is one thing.
Responsive Web Desing (RWD) is something different.
FlexBox is a native CSS set of properties allowing you to apply some specific layout-related styles to your parent and child elements.
RWD is an approach of adjusting the site to fit every screen size. In order to achieve this, you use #MediaQueries.
Flexbox is not a replacement for mediaQueries. Magic happens when you use them together.
Imagine a situation where you want to replace an img scr in the "background" css property when user's screen size goes below 768px. How would You do that with Flexbox but without #Media rules ?
MediaQueries are really powerful and give you a lot of possibilities to control different layouts on your site based on the screen width.
I make use of percentages by specifying the width of elements I want to stretch and percentages when specifying "left" "left:40%;" for example and a relative position. This allows elements to move with the page when it's resized and stretch but at certain resolutions sizes the elements don't entirely stay in place. Am I stuck using media queries for this issue or is there another way? I'm still using media queries but I also don't want my design breaking so early before reaching breakpoints, I want it to be as flexible/elastic as possible before having to have media queries kick in.
I think instead of worrying about those wacky sizes where your page looks funky, you should think about the most common screen sizes that are actually used.
I know exactly what you mean about those breakpoints. That's why I use screenfly to test my site on the most common screen sizes and work from there.
And if your site elements aren't maintaining your desired positions, then you are probably calculating the percentages wrongly. Here is a great article that helped me with fluid layouts and how to set up the percentages and what-not: http://www.creativebloq.com/css3/create-fluid-layouts-html5-and-css3-9122768
Use float: left with a percentage width instead, and that should accomplish what you need. If you're using left: 40% for an offset (gap or spacing), try using margin-left.
I have created my website as a fixed layout, with a width of 1600px,
but the webpage on a smaller resolution looks too big.
What am I supposed to do to make it looks good in every resolution?
Thanks for help
Use relative measures, like width: 100%. You can constrain this even more by using min-width and max-width.
Apart from that, you can use CSS media queries to make styles that only apply if certain conditions are met, like a minimum or maximum width. If you use that, you can change the whole look and feel of your website, for instance by hiding parts on smaller devices or change from a 2 column to a 1 column text presentation on smaller devices.
A percentage-based width would change the width depending on the screen size, but you should also use min-width to ensure the page doesn't become too thin that it ruins your content.
Your options:
Use a narrower fixed width. Staying under 1,000 pixels is fairly safe though not perfect
Use percentages for page width instead, though this is difficult if you need to have a set width for child elements to look right
Do a combination of the above and use media queries in your CSS to make your site responsive. It'll fit every screen width you specify AND you'll have full control over your layout at each trigger point.
Here is a great resource for learning about responsive sites - this is the way to build a modern website, so though it might seem confusing it's worth every minute you spend on it.
http://bradfrost.github.com/this-is-responsive/resources.html
Good luck.
There are many types of display that people use, so it is hard to expect what resolutions will your user use to view your site. To avoid this problem, I am thinking using percentage instead of pixels, em and pt to define the web layout. However, is this a good practice to do this? Including using the percentage, eg 80% for the main wrapper ?
I know it is hard to do it when it come to determine the width of the inner element. I'll have to calculate the percentages based on the each div's parent. How do you guys cope with this problem when it come to different browser's resolution?
Css media query is best solution for this check this http://css-tricks.com/css-media-queries/
There's obviously debate between fluid and fixed layouts, but fluid layouts can work very well as well.
An example is smashing magazine (try resizing your window with the site loaded).
I believe that it would be a lot easier if you use a framework of some sort. If you have used any grids CSS framework before, you can have a look at Liquid Blueprint. This allows you to work in a grid based manner, but have the page fluidly resize according to the browser's size.
I use percentages for every width within the outer container but have min-width: and max-width: for the container itself, so it scales a small amount. Say 960px for min width and 1160px for the max width. This way it works larger screen sizes better and if I want to I can go back and make it responsive because its already all in percentages.
I had to redo a website from flash to html/jquery.
Everything looked great. Until I tested the site on a netbook where the screen resolution is much smaller. All the elements were misaligned or didn't stretch as I wanted it to. Or there were scroll bars everywhere.
So, How would do I make it stretch or resize properly,
Is there a property which I can set somewhere that would resize everything proportionately?
You should use heigh / width in percentage(%) rather px / em. change the css file.
Is there a property which I can set somewhere that would resize everything proportionately?
No, I wish :P You'll need to redo the layout to make it liquid or use media queries to make it responsive to different resolutions. I'm afraid both solutions could be pretty complex.
Is there a property which I can set somewhere that would resize everything proportionately?
Everything? No. Font sizes won't adjust based on window size (at least not without JS).
You can set the widths of most things using percentage units in your stylesheets, but even then there will be a point where things will break down.
The current buzzword is responsive web design (I can't comment on the quality of the links from that page) in which media queries are used to provide different designs for different sized browsers.
The property called Media Query we mostly use this property with Responsible Web Design. In which we tell browsers change the specific css property at that particular screen size.
Check this article for more http://css-tricks.com/6206-resolution-specific-stylesheets/
& for Responsible Web Design mostly use value in Percentage instead of Pixels .
Check THIS website for more reference.
unfortunately there is no "magic" which scales things up/down. i can think of some guidelines:
Use relative widths for things (percentages) instead of absolute value
no hardwired sizes, keep them in separate CSS documents
work your way up: choose a minimum resolution, work upwards from it. it makes sizing things much easier.
The question was to RESIZE not to REALIGN. Using percentiles will only change WHERE the HTML elements show up on the page. It will not change their SIZE.
you can use with and height in percentage to set your screen for all resoulation..Give the 100% width to the body and the div you want give 100% width.