What is adaptive design

Adaptive design uses distinct layouts for specific screen sizes, rather than a single fluid design. The server detects the user's device and loads a layout (pre-designed template) specifically created for that screen width. Traditionally, adaptive design involves creating layouts for 6 common screen widths: 320px, 480px, 760px, 960px, 1200px, and 1600px. This approach can be resource-intensive, requiring significant design and development time. However, by analyzing your website's analytics data, you can optimize this process by focusing on the 2-3 most commonly used screen sizes among your users, making implementation more efficient while still serving the majority of your audience.^[1]

Adaptive design gives designers precise control over how content appears at each breakpoint, ensuring optimal user experience for specific devices. While layouts remain static (fixed) within their designated breakpoint ranges rather than continuously adjusting like responsive design, this approach allows for highly optimized experiences tailored to specific device capabilities and constraints. Each layout can be fine-tuned for performance, readability, and interaction patterns unique to different device classes.