Responsive web design and its importance today

Did you know that smartphones are the most widely used type of electronic device in Spain for connecting to the Internet? And this is not from us, but from a survey carried out by Statista with 2020 data.

Specifically, 93'1% of the population prefers their smartphone to connect to the network. 

Data which, on the other hand, hackers know perfectly well when it comes to carrying out cyber attacks such as the spear phishing. But in this post we don't want to delve into the different practices in cybersecurity (to name a few), DevSecOps), but we want to stress the importance of being aware of the different means of connection. No doubt about it, responsive technology plays a key role in web design.

What is responsive web design?

What is responsive web design and how important is it nowadays? We'll tell you right now:

A responsive web design is a type of web design that automatically, adapts to the different screens of electronic devices: laptops, smartphones, PCs, tablets, smart TVs...

The responsive web system allows to detect the width of the screen and, consequently, resize and position the different elements that make up the websiteThe aim is to offer the best possible user experience and optimal display. 

It should be noted that responsive web design should not be confused with the creation of mobile websites, as they are not the same thing! As we have pointed out in previous paragraphs, responsive web design resizes the elements of the website on all types of electronic devices, not just mobile devices. In addition, creating a mobile website implies a separate, independent project.

Responsive in IT: why it is important

Firstly, responsive web design reduces development timeIt allows content to go viral (it is shared on different devices) and also avoids duplication. 

Here's why responsive web design is important today:

• New forms of Internet consumption: As already mentioned, the current trend is towards multi-connection, with a particular emphasis on the use of smartphones. Therefore, having a responsive website becomes a real necessity.
• Better user experience: A website, where the user experience is satisfactory, is synonymous with increased interaction and brand awareness and, consequently, improved branding.
• A key factor for SEO: If your website is not optimised for mobiles (even before it is optimised for desktop), you are probably going to rank worse. If you do not have a responsive web design, you will lose a significant amount of traffic.

How to make a responsive website?

Having explained responsive web design and its importance nowadays, it is important to know that what to consider when developing responsive websites. These are some of the key web elements to resize the width of a web page:

• Image and video: Firstly, the audiovisual elements must be proportional to the size of the screens. This is to avoid uncomfortable viewing (elements outside the visual spectrum, small sizes, etc.).
• Loading speed: This section is fundamental. There is nothing that displeases a user more than a slow loading page. Simply because it is one of the main reasons why the user leaves your website. So a complete optimisation is necessary: from eliminating unnecessary resources, to eliminating plugins, to the weight of the images.
• Typography: Legibility is another key factor. In addition to the size of the font, it is important to choose a typeface that is both clear and easy on the eye, as well as aesthetically pleasing.
• Format: Knowing how to answer the question "What does a website look like on a mobile, and what about on a PC? In other words, know which format to use: either portrait or landscape.
• Usability: Important! Remember that devices such as smartphones and tablets are touch devices, whereas a computer requires a mouse.

And you, have you already understood what responsive web design is and its importance nowadays? If you want to dedicate yourself to the world of web design, at IMMUNE we have different training courses that will interest you: 

Be sure to check out our Degree in Software Development Engineeringas well as our Bootcamps in UX/UI Design o Web Development.