Responsive Design

Master modern responsive design techniques to create interfaces that adapt seamlessly across all screen sizes and device contexts.

When to Use This Skill

• Implementing mobile-first responsive layouts
• Using container queries for component-based responsiveness
• Creating fluid typography and spacing scales
• Building complex layouts with CSS Grid and Flexbox
• Designing breakpoint strategies for design systems
• Implementing responsive images and media
• Creating adaptive navigation patterns
• Building responsive tables and data displays

Core Capabilities

1. Container Queries

• Component-level responsiveness independent of viewport
• Container query units (cqi, cqw, cqh)
• Style queries for conditional styling
• Fallbacks for browser support

2. Fluid Typography & Spacing

• CSS clamp() for fluid scaling
• Viewport-relative units (vw, vh, dvh)
• Fluid type scales with min/max bounds
• Responsive spacing systems

3. Layout Patterns

• CSS Grid for 2D layouts
• Flexbox for 1D distribution
• Intrinsic layouts (content-based sizing)
• Subgrid for nested grid alignment

4. Breakpoint Strategy

• Mobile-first media queries
• Content-based breakpoints
• Design token integration
• Feature queries (@supports)

Quick Reference

Modern Breakpoint Scale

/* Mobile-first breakpoints */
/* Base: Mobile (< 640px) */
@media (min-width: 640px) {
  /* sm: Landscape phones, small tablets */
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  /* md: Tablets */
}
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
  /* lg: Laptops, small desktops */
}
@media (min-width: 1280px) {
  /* xl: Desktops */
}
@media (min-width: 1536px) {
  /* 2xl: Large desktops */
}

/* Tailwind CSS equivalent */
/* sm:  @media (min-width: 640px) */
/* md:  @media (min-width: 768px) */
/* lg:  @media (min-width: 1024px) */
/* xl:  @media (min-width: 1280px) */
/* 2xl: @media (min-width: 1536px) */

Key Patterns

Pattern 1: Container Queries

/* Define a containment context */
.card-container {
  container-type: inline-size;
  container-name: card;
}

/* Query the container, not the viewport */
@container card (min-width: 400px) {
  .card {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr;
    gap: 1rem;
  }

  .card-image {
    aspect-ratio: 1;
  }
}

@container card (min-width: 600px) {
  .card {
    grid-template-columns: 250px 1fr;
  }

  .card-title {
    font-size: 1.5rem;
  }
}

/* Container query units */
.card-title {
  /* 5% of container width, clamped between 1rem and 2rem */
  font-size: clamp(1rem, 5cqi, 2rem);
}

// React component with container queries
function ResponsiveCard({ title, image, description }) {
  return (
    <div className="@container">
      <article className="flex flex-col @md:flex-row @md:gap-4">
        <img
          src={image}
          alt=""
          className="w-full @md:w-48 @lg:w-64 aspect-video @md:aspect-square object-cover"
        />
        <div className="p-4 @md:p-0">
          <h2 className="text-lg @md:text-xl @lg:text-2xl font-semibold">
            {title}
          </h2>
          <p className="mt-2 text-muted-foreground @md:line-clamp-3">
            {description}
          </p>
        </div>
      </article>
    </div>
  );
}

Pattern 2: Fluid Typography

/* Fluid type scale using clamp() */
:root {
  /* Min size, preferred (fluid), max size */
  --text-xs: clamp(0.75rem, 0.7rem + 0.25vw, 0.875rem);
  --text-sm: clamp(0.875rem, 0.8rem + 0.375vw, 1rem);
  --text-base: clamp(1rem, 0.9rem + 0.5vw, 1.125rem);
  --text-lg: clamp(1.125rem, 1rem + 0.625vw, 1.25rem);
  --text-xl: clamp(1.25rem, 1rem + 1.25vw, 1.5rem);
  --text-2xl: clamp(1.5rem, 1.25rem + 1.25vw, 2rem);
  --text-3xl: clamp(1.875rem, 1.5rem + 1.875vw, 2.5rem);
  --text-4xl: clamp(2.25rem, 1.75rem + 2.5vw, 3.5rem);
}

/* Usage */
h1 {
  font-size: var(--text-4xl);
}
h2 {
  font-size