What are the best ways to incorporate EMs and percentages into responsive web design?

As I delve into the world of responsive design, I am eager to understand the most effective practices when it comes to utilizing em and percentage units of measurement. In a scenario where I set the font-size of the body to 10px, could this potentially lead to issues if I opt to declare all font-sizes as em's (e.g., 1em = 10px, 2.5em = 25px, etc.)?

Furthermore, when should I choose to use em units over percentages? Are em units primarily suitable for typography purposes, while percentages are better suited for sizing, margin, padding, and other elements?

The concept of being able to adjust font size seamlessly during media queries by modifying the body font-size is appealing. However, I am uncertain whether I should allow my layout and spacing to adjust based on text size variations. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Answer №1

To enhance accessibility, it is recommended to allow the browser's font size setting to impact your design instead of specifying the font-size in pixels for the body.

Using rem units can ensure that all elements scale proportionally according to the browser's font size. While em units are based on the parent element's font size, making them more complex to use when dealing with nested elements. The key advantage of using rem is that it remains relative to the html element's font size (root element). By assuming 1rem = 16px and designing everything accordingly, the layout will automatically adjust if the user sets their browser so that 1rem = 20px, for example.

In responsive design, it's best practice to set media query "breakpoints" at screen widths where content starts becoming difficult to use, rather than fixed widths based on popular devices. Ensuring that these breakpoints also adapt to changes in font size is essential for a consistent experience. Safari handles rem media queries differently from other browsers, so it's advisable to use em for media queries.

Answer №2

When it comes to utilizing responsive design, my recommendation would be to opt for a framework such as Bootstrap or Foundation. These frameworks are essential for achieving a responsive layout, especially if you're new to the concept. Responsivity involves a lot of CSS and preprocessors, particularly in more complex scenarios.

As for your specific question, it's not common practice to resize fonts using media queries in most cases. It might be beneficial to set your fonts in rem units for consistency across various devices. Testing your responsiveness on different devices is crucial. When referring to layout, you probably mean div elements. The best approach is to use viewport vw (width) and vh (height), unless you need a proportional measure within another element where percentages come into play. Rem units are preferred over em because they reference the root em unit defined in HTML. If the screen size shrinks on a device, it's important to adjust by collapsing menus and ensuring text flows appropriately within divs. I could elaborate further, but as mentioned earlier, using a framework facilitates quicker learning and development. Many developers, like myself, rely on frameworks for optimal results.

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