What Is Responsive Web Design and Why Do You Need it?

Responsive Web Design is an approach for creating web pages that adjust themselves to the screen size of the device that is being used to view them. Whether you view the web pages of a responsive website on your smartphone, tab or office desktop, they re-size themselves according to the device, providing the user optimal viewing experience.

The rise in popularity of smartphones and tablet devices means that an increasing number of people are visiting their favourite websites on the smaller screens of these hand-held devices. While earlier, the principal challenge that a web developer faced was of designing sites that looked the same across different web browsers, today it is about developing layout and navigation that is device-independent. With millions of consumers choosing to browse the Internet over their hand-held devices, it is a challenge they will have to accept.

Responsive Web Design is the Future

If you haven’t woken up to the advantages of responsive designing, it is about time you did. Responsively designed websites offer numerous benefits. Browse through the following list to find out why you need responsive web design.

Save Time and Money

It is a common misconception that responsive websites are expensive. It is true that designing a responsive website costs more than building a regular one. But after you factor in the expenses for creating duplicate websites for hand-held devices and desktop computers, the cost advantage of conventional websites is completely eliminated. Not just that, responsive websites are much less costly to maintain, as there’s no need to look after two separate versions – mobile and desktop. Whether it is designing the website or maintaining it, you save valuable time by opting for responsive design.

Mobile Devices Have Taken Over From Desktops/Laptops

The stupendous growth of mobile devices over the last few years has led to exponential increase in internet traffic over smartphones. Many research studies and surveys have indicated that more and more people are using their iPhones, iPads, and other smartphones to look for products and services online. Considering the fact that these devices will only rise in popularity, it is important that you move on to the responsive design bandwagon to reach out to a vast network of consumers.

User Experience

There’s no doubting that content is the most important aspect of your website. Without giving attention to essential concepts of usability, while creating the website, the chances that it will catch the public’s eye is slim. Responsive web design provides the user unmatched viewing experience.

Works Across Devices

Responsive web designing ensures that the user gets the best experience of your website irrespective of the device they use. This frees you of the need to develop and maintain separate versions of your website for different device technologies and platforms.

Responsive websites are the future of web designing, and sooner or later all websites will follow the mantra of ‘one website fits all’.