Home >Web Front-end >CSS Tutorial >`max-width` or `max-device-width: Which Media Query Should I Use for Responsive Design?`

`max-width` or `max-device-width: Which Media Query Should I Use for Responsive Design?`

Patricia Arquette
Patricia ArquetteOriginal
2024-12-08 11:26:13421browse

`max-width` or `max-device-width: Which Media Query Should I Use for Responsive Design?`

Should I Use max-device-width or max-width?

TL;DR

For responsive websites, it's better to use min-width/max-width instead of min-device-width/max-device-width in media queries to target a broader range of screen sizes.

Explanation

device-width media features are deprecated in the 2018 Media Queries Level 4 specification draft. They consider the device's actual screen size rather than the browser viewport, which can lead to inconsistencies in responsive behavior.

Why Use max-width vs. max-device-width?

  • max-width targets the viewport size, ensuring responsiveness across devices and browser window sizes.
  • max-device-width targets the device's physical screen size, limiting responsiveness when resizing the browser window.

Additional Considerations

  • Use a viewport meta tag () to control browser viewport scaling.
  • Consider device-specific media features (e.g., touch-action) for better touch screen experiences.

Further Reading

  • [Quirksmode.org - A pixel is not a pixel is not a pixel](https://www.quirksmode.org/mobile/prefsizes.html)
  • [W3 - Media Queries Level 4 Specification](https://www.w3.org/TR/mediaqueries-4/#device-width)
  • [Google Developers - Web Fundamentals - Viewport](https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/design-and-ui/responsive-design/viewport)
  • [Google Developers - Web Fundamentals - Responsive CSS media queries](https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/design-and-ui/responsive-design/css-media-queries)
  • [MDN - Using the viewport meta tag to control layout on mobile browsers](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Viewport)

The above is the detailed content of `max-width` or `max-device-width: Which Media Query Should I Use for Responsive Design?`. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Statement:
The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn