Adaptive Web Design (AWD) is a modern approach to website design that focuses on creating a dynamic, user-friendly experience for website visitors. With AWD, websites are able to dynamically adjust their layout and functionality based on the device being used to access the site. This web development allows for an optimal viewing experience on all devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones.
AWD's goal is to build websites for users. It puts an emphasis on multi-device compatibility by using fluid grid layouts and clever media queries to create customised looks for different device types.
Some websites implement adaptive designs right away. For example, websites that also include mobile optimisation like IKEA and Apple.
A mobile website with an adaptable design may have a different layout from a desktop one. But rather than letting the design attempt to rearrange itself, the designers choose a new screen arrangement for the phone.
What is Adaptive Web Design?
Adaptive web design (AWD) is a technique that enables web pages to adjust for various screen sizes and device kinds to give users the best possible experience. This enables developers to build user-friendly websites customised for each viewer, giving them access to content regardless of the device they use.
Further, Adaptive web design adjusts a website's style and navigation depending on the size of the device used by using media queries and other code. This gives visitors the best viewing experience whether their devices access your website.
AWD ensures all users can access your online content without experiencing any navigational issues by building numerous versions of a single website.
The process of adaptive web design is creating a website layout for a specific screen size. There will be a new, specially developed website layout for every screen size, whether on desktop or mobile, according to Webopedia.
Websites are therefore created to adjust to various devices. For example, different layouts could be developed for viewing on desktop and mobile browsers. The user will enjoy better browsing, irrespective of the device they choose.
What makes Adaptive Web Design so important
The principle behind adaptive web design is to recognise the device's kind and size and change the display accordingly. By doing this, you can make sure that websites are readable and straightforward to use on devices with small screens, such as tablets and mobile phones.
Adaptive web designs use CSS media queries to detect the device being used before loading specific page layouts used for that platform in order to achieve this.
Benefits of Adaptive Web Design
Improved user experience is a key benefit of adaptive web design. A website will automatically resize itself to fit the size of the screen being used to view it, thus no matter what device is used, the page layout will remain the same.
Here are some of the benefits of adaptive web design:
- User-specific target: In order to improve user experience on individual devices, adaptive web design creates various website versions for various devices. Users must enjoy themselves on each device. One can modify and alter the page content and layout in this web design to better match the user's screen.
- Increase loading time: The characteristics that are optimal for a certain website are displayed via adaptive web design, which creates alternative layouts for various devices. As traffic decreases, loading speed increases. Further, the server determines the size of the device before offering a layout that will fit the device the best.
- Long-lasting existing websites: Different layouts for various devices are available on adaptive websites, so you don't have to rewrite the whole site from scratch.
- Ads Monetization: Adaptive websites are designed to look and function the way you see them, regardless of the device being used to view them. There are smaller versions of websites, so the ratio of banners, photographs, etc. can be kept the same for smaller resolutions.
Adaptive Web Design Examples
According to Device Atlas, here are some examples of Adaptive Web Designs.
1. Maplin
The website from the UK decided against a specific mobile URL in favour of an adaptive strategy.
When a mobile device is detected, a mobile-friendly version of the Maplin website is delivered that is designed for exploring products and making purchases while on the go. Compared to the desktop version, the mobile website is lighter and faster.
2. IKEA
The mobile website for IKEA is another great example. It makes use of an m-dot mobile phone version with simplified menus and product browsing while also enhancing the shopping list feature, which is far less obvious on the desktop site.
This is certainly targeted at customers who are buying in a physical store while carrying their phones with them.
3. Apple
Apple's designs have long been famous for their simplicity, and this can be seen in everything from their website to their retail locations to their finished products.
The presence of responsive design, after all, is a result of a variety of smart gadgets. However, Apple employs an adaptive web design, which also means that Apple.com will alter depending on the nature and functionality of the device.
4. USA Today
USA Today is able to select an adaptive approach thanks to the technology that enables the brand to identify particular equipment by taking the operating system and screen size into account in order to give a customised experience.
When to implement Adaptive Web Design
It sometimes can be challenging when implementing an adaptive web design. Hence you need to know that a unique version of a website is made for each type of device using adaptive web design. Additionally, web visitors need faster page loads and like to save time.
Further, adaptive web design is good because of the fact that adaptive websites are simple to make and utilise fewer resources.
Wrapping Up
Using adaptive web design is a great method to fulfil visitors' needs and guarantee a nice user experience. Decisions about the appropriate method for each platform can be informed by the information gathered from site traffic and analytics.
The development of technology makes it simpler to build adaptive websites with more sophisticated and seamless features that are better suited to the demands of each user.
Your business should give adaptive web design in order to keep up with the digital transformation because it offers several advantages. VirtualSpirit can help you implement adaptive web design for your website. Book a call now!
