Websites are no longer just images and text on a page. Sure there was a time when Flash and Java played a huge role in adding interactivity and animation to websites, however, nowadays websites need to be crisp, minimal, and quick to load. When considering the type of website you want to create, you need to keep in mind the client’s requirements and choose a web design that offers the optimum level of form and function.

The professional web designers at Kodework in Norway and India recommend understanding the two most important types of website design – adaptive and responsive. With these disciplines in your arsenal, you are well on your way to designing a slick, professional website for any industry. This concise look at website creation is part of a more comprehensive guide to web design, which can be found here. For now, let’s jump into the two most popular types of web design.

Adaptive design

In adaptive web design, there are two or more variants of the same page that are designed. These variants have the same content but are customized for different screen sizes. Adaptive web design is further split into ‘device type adapt’ or ‘browser width adapt’. For device type adaptation, based on the user’s device keeping in mind resolution etc, the website knows what device type version to display to a browser/client. The major drawback here is that if the browser window is shrunk on a desktop, the web page design won’t adapt to the shrunk version.

For ‘browser width adapts’, the website makes use of breakpoints and media-queries to switch between different types of browsers. Instead of the device type, such as mobile, tablet or desktop, dimensions such as 480px, 768px and 1080px are designed for. The latter provides better flexibility and is more responsive to changes in browser size on a larger screen. Adaptive web designs are custom designs that are easier to build, though care must be taken when viewing them on smaller browser windows.

Responsive design

Responsive web design combines breakpoints (media queries) with flexible grids. This creates a custom look for every screen size possible. As the name suggests, responsive websites constantly change or ‘respond’  according to screen sizes. Adaptive websites, on the other hand, adapt only when hit with a breakpoint. What makes responsive web design very popular, is that they combine a great viewing experience at every screen size. This is regardless of the device type. 

Responsive designs are built rigid, making them hard to break. Several templates are available online for the same. Unlike responsive web designs, adaptive websites need extensive testing for quality maintenance. Without access to its codes, they can be challenging to improve on.

So, are you ready to give web design a go? Or maybe you have a project that requires a highly professional website design? You can reach out to the developers at Kodework by visiting www.kodework.com. Find out more about the exciting world of Web Development by checking out our Web Design Guide – Best Guide for 2020.