I'm building a basic web App using PhoneGap for a local company. I have created two images for the header/banner at the top of the App. One is optimised for portrait orientation and one is optimised for landscape.
I want to be able to show either one depending which way the device is held. I have been reading about media queries and frankly its a little bit over complicated for my needs, as JQuery mobile will take care of rest of the functionality for me, and I'm only using one CSS for the whole App.
Does anyone have a few simple lines of code I can add to help solve this issue?
You can use CSS media queries for portrait and landscape orientations, it is not complicated at all:
#media screen and (orientation: portrait) { ... }
#media screen and (orientation: landscape) { ... }
Using these media queries you can override background-image for any orientation.
Official documentation: http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-mediaqueries/#orientation
There are two ways of using it:
Presume you have <div> with class header:
#media screen and (orientation: portrait)
{
div.header { background-image:url(image1.jpg); }
}
#media screen and (orientation: landscape)
{
div.header { background-image:url(image2.jpg); }
}
Alternatively, you may wish to use <img> tags. In this case you will need two of them, and hide/show only one with CSS rules. Let's say, <img> tags have classes header-land and header-portrait respectively:
#media screen and (orientation: portrait)
{
.header-land { display:none; }
.header-portrait { display:inline-block; }
}
#media screen and (orientation: landscape)
{
.header-land { display:inline-block; }
.header-portrait { display:none; }
}
This is an answer about how to use media query, it's a quite easy way to solve the issue. But one prerequisite is that it's ok to show the images as css backgrounds, and not as <img ... />
Pseudo code
.my-banner {
...declarations like:
background-position:
border:
margin:
padding:
}
#media all and (max-width: 320px) {
.my-banner {
background-image: url(portrait.png);
}
#media all and (min-width: 321px) {
.my-banner {
background-image: url(landscape.png);
}
Related
Working a lot now with CSS media queries, I wondered in which order it's best to use them.
Method 1
#media only screen and (min-width: 800px) {
#content { ... }
#sidebar { ... }
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 799px) {
#content { ... }
#sidebar { ... }
}
Like this obviously the code is shorter, but with a lot of CSS you end up having the CSS of one container spread to multiple places in your stylesheet.
Method 2
#media only screen and (min-width: 800px) {
#content { ... }
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 799px) {
#content { ... }
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 800px) {
#sidebar { ... }
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 799px) {
#sidebar { ... }
}
Like this if you specify the screen size (at which the CSS is active) for each container a new, the overview in my humble opinion is much better.
But with a lot of CSS you will use the #media query dozens and dozens times.
Does the second method cause significantly longer load time or has any other disadvantages?
EDIT:
I might have been not clear enough. My question doesn't really concern the order or the queries as such or about overwriting CSS declarations.
What I wonder about is rather the norms how other people include the media query "statments" into their css.
Lets say I have only one breaking point where I switch some CSS.
So I have one media query for min:800px and a second for max:799px.
Should I use both query "statements"
#media only screen and (min-width: 800px) { ... }
#media only sreen and (max-width: 799px) { ... }
only once in my whole stylesheet and include ALL the CSS for ALL containers into the two media query "statments"?
Or is it okay as well to use the media query "statments" mutiple times?
I mean instead of making two seperate areas in the stylesheet (one for CSS above and one for below 800px), if there are any concerns about the method of using the media query "statments" instead multiple times (for each part of the page again, like for Content, Widgets etc to make them responsive)?
I would just like to have the CSS for above and below 800px in two different parts of my stylesheet.
I know that ofc both methodes are working, I am jsut curious about the norms and if using the media query "statements" dozens or hundreds of times within a CSS sheet (instead of just twice in the case I jsut mentioned) will increase the loading times?
My answer on how you should use media queries can be applied to your question:
Here is how you should use media queries:
Remember use the sizes you like/need. This below is just for demo
purposes.
Non-Mobile First Method using max-width:
/*========== Non-Mobile First Method ==========*/
#media only screen and (max-width: 960px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 640px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 480px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 320px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
Mobile First Method using min-width:
/*========== Mobile First Method ==========*/
#media only screen and (min-width: 320px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 480px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 640px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 960px) {
/*your CSS Rules*/
}
Here is a good tutorial from W3.org
Based on your edited question:
I guess this depends on each developer and how they need/think to develop his/her project.
Here is what I use to do ** (when not not using Pre-compliers)**:
I create a file styles.css which includes the general styles that will apply to the project like this:
/*========== All Screens ==========*/
{
/*General CSS Rules*/
}
Then having the media queries below, either using the non-mobile or mobile approach method explained above (in my case I usual use the non-mobile approach method).
But, depending on the projects you may need to have some other breaks besides the "standard" which can led you to use the rules in the way you mentioned.
Plus there are developers who prefer to separate into 2 files, the one with general styles CSS and other one with media queries styles.
Important: There is one difference from creating a file with general styles + 1 media queries (min-width:800px or max-width:799px), then only having a file with 2 media queries (min-width:800px/max-width:799px), which is when you have the general rules it will apply to ALL widths, therefore you just need to set the rules for 1 media queries.
Based on your last comment, the answer I could give you would be opinion-wised, so the best I can do for you is to give you a few articles so you can have your own opinion on this topic:
How many media queries is too many?
Web Performance: One or thousands of Media Queries?
Debunking Responsive CSS Performance Myths
It means that, if you apply two rules that collide to the same elements, it will choose the last one that was declared, unless the first one has the !important marker
The second one will always display the content at 799px and whatever content has been styled as the style allocated for 799 rather than 800px if the device is 800px, in this case because it's 1px difference it doesn't make much different, but if you did it at around 200px different it would cause problems for your design.
Example:
if you have it this way:
#media (max-width: 800px) {
body {
background: red;
}
}
#media (max-width: 799px) {
body {
background: green;
}
}
The background would be green if the device is 799px in width or less.
if it was the other way round
#media (max-width: 799px) {
body {
background: red;
}
}
#media (max-width: 800px) {
body {
background: green;
}
}
if the device width was less than 799px the background would be green because no !important keyword has been defined.
when the !important keyword has been defined, result for example one will be the same
#media (max-width: 799px) {
body {
background: red; !important
}
}
#media (max-width: 800px) {
body {
background: green;
}
}
It won't take the processor longer unless the two elements collide. You'll be fine to vary min-width and max-width.
I suggest you to use the first method.
If you are developing a site mobile first then you won't need media queries for mobile but for tablet and desktop only.
//Mobile first
.your-mobile-styles-also-shared-with-tablet-and-desktop{
}
//Tablet
#media only screen and (min-width: 641px) {
#content { ... }
#sidebar { ... }
}
//Desktop
#media only screen and (min-width: 1025px) {
#content { ... }
#sidebar { ... }
}
If you are using a CSS pre-processor like SASS or LESS you can always create many LESS or SASS components that you will include in your main.less or main.scss / .sass file.
So each component will have not so many media queries and you can divide each component with some comments like shown above.
Your code this way will be easier to read and also much shorter, because all properties shared by tablet and desktop can be defined at the beginning of you CSS component file.
I'll make it simple:
This is the only code in my sample project's entire scope that turns the background to red.
#media only screen and (min-width: 768px) and (orientation: portrait) {
background: red;
}
I cannot explain why I'm seeing a red background in this Chrome responsive simulator when the min-width is clearly below 768px:
I can't replicate the issue. Given you said it is the only code, shouldn't there be a CSS class selector?
#media only screen and (min-width: 768px) and (orientation: portrait) {
.someClassName {
background: red;
}
}
The answer is that I was using min-width instead of using min-device-height -- Once I switched to device-height vs. height - things started working.
let me say as first I am a CSS noob. I can freely accept any blaming
#media (max-width: 735px) {... }
#media (min-width: 735px) {... }
#media (width: 320px) {... }
#media (width: 360px) {... }
#media (width: 375px) {... }
#media (width: 414px) {... }
I have these things for able to make it sensitive.
I wanted to use max-width but failed not sure why but browser always choose another max-width expression and executes it so I just collected the mobile phone's width and made this.
And also I want to send same content to who has 360px and 320px is there any "or" expression may be I can minify it.
If I got it correct from your question, you can add the following media query.
#media (min-width: 320px) and (max-width: 360px) {
html { color: blue; }
}
I recommended using a different approach, either mobile first or desktop first using media queries. In that way you can simply address the correct layout to a lot of people without writing exceptions.
Mobile first
html { color: purple; }
#media (min-width: 600px) {
html { color: black; }
}
/* And go up the road */
Desktop first
html { color: purple; }
#media (max-width: 600px) {
html { color: black; }
}
/* And go down the road */
#media only screen and (min-width : 1824px) {}
#media only screen and (min-width : 1224px) {}
I am using these mediaqueries and these are working fine but when I see my website at 1280px resolution, it does not work
Try like this:
#media screen and (min-width: 1024px) and and (max-width:1280px)
{
.....
}
#HMS Designz, If you want to access media query 1280 to 1024 resolution. You can try like this.
#media screen and (min-width:1024px) and (max-width:1280px) {}
#media all and (min-width: 1280px) {
/* css for width greater than 1280px */
}
#media all and (max-width: 1280px) and (min-width: 1024px) {
/* css for width between 1280px and 1024px */
}
#media all and (max-width: 1023px) {
/* css for width less than 1024px */
}
Here is detailed explainition of media queries.
include this in <head></head> (if you have not)
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, user-scalable=no" /> <-- user-scalable=yes if you want user to allow zoom -->
change you #media style as this // change width as per your requirements
#media only screen (max-width: 500px) {
// or as per your needs, as I try to explain below
}
Now I try to explain maybe..:)
#media (max-width:500px)
for a window with a max-width of 500px that you want to apply these styles. At that size you would be talking about anything smaller than a desktop screen in most cases.
#media screen and (max-width:500px)
for a device with a screen and a window with max-width of 500px apply the style. This is almost identical to the above except you are specifying screen as opposed to the other media types the most common other one being print.
#media only screen and (max-width:500px)
Here is a quote straight from W3C to explain this one.
The keyword ‘only’ can also be used to hide style sheets from older user agents. User agents must process media queries starting with ‘only’ as if the ‘only’ keyword was not present.
As there is no such media type as "only", the style sheet should be ignored by older browsers.
If
That's what media queries are: logical if statements. "If" these things are true about the browser, use the CSS inside.
And
The keyword and.
#media (min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 800px) {
html { background: red; }
}
Or
Comma separate.
#media (max-width: 600px), (min-width: 800px) {
html { background: red; }
}
Technically these are treated like to separate media queries, but that is effectively and or.
Not
Reverse the logic with the keyword not.
#media not all and (max-width: 600px) {
html { background: red; }
}
Just doing not (max-width: 600px) doesn't seem to work for me, hence the slightly funky syntax above. Perhaps someone can explain that to me. Note that not only works for the current media query, so if you comma separate, it only affects the media query it is within. Also note that not reverses the logic for the entire media query as a whole, not individual parts of it. not x and y = not (x and y) ≠ (not x) and y
Exclusive
To ensure that only one media query is in effect at time, make the numbers (or whatever) such that that is possible. It may be easier to mentally manage them this way.
#media (max-width: 400px) {
html { background: red; }
}
#media (min-width: 401px) and (max-width: 800px) {
html { background: green; }
}
#media (min-width: 801px) {
html { background: blue; }
}
Logically this is a bit like a switch statement, only without a simple way to do "if none of these match do this" like default.
Overriding
There is nothing preventing more than one media query from being true at the same time. It may be more efficient to use this in some cases rather than making them all exclusive.
#media (min-width: 400px) {
html { background: red; }
}
#media (min-width: 600px) {
html { background: green; }
}
#media (min-width: 800px) {
html { background: blue; }
}
Media queries add no specificity to the selectors they contain, but source order still matters. The above will work because they are ordered correctly. Swap that order and at browser window widths above 800px the background would be red, perhaps inquisitively.
Mobile First
Your small screen styles are in your regular screen CSS and then as the screen gets larger you override what you need to. So, min-width media queries in general.
html { background: red; }
#media (min-width: 600px) {
html { background: green; }
}
Desktop First
Your large screen styles are in your regular screen CSS and then as the screen gets smaller you override what you need to. So, max-width media queries in general.
html { background: red; }
#media (max-width: 600px) {
html { background: green; }
}
You can be as complex as you want with this.
#media
only screen and (min-width: 100px),
not all and (min-width: 100px),
not print and (min-height: 100px),
(color),
(min-height: 100px) and (max-height: 1000px),
handheld and (orientation: landscape)
{
html { background: red; }
}
Note the only keyword was intended to prevent non-media-query supporting browsers to not load the stylesheet or use the styles. Not sure how useful that ever was / still is.
And for media queries priorites
sources : one two three four five
You are not create any media query for 1280 px resolutions. First create media query for that resolution using following media query.
#media screen and (min-width:1024) and (max-width:1280px)
{
}
I've seen a lot of posts about nesting media queries in LESS so I dont want to repeat any of that or waste anyones time but my question is slightly different. I have a nested media query inside a .less file with this code:
#media only screen and (max-width: 420px), only screen and (max-device-width: 420px){}
So that is on my login.less so my login page will be more responsive. I want to make another page responsive as well so in my aboutMe.less I also added the same code:
#media only screen and (max-width: 420px), only screen and (max-device-width: 420px){}
but its not triggering at all. Can you not have two media queries of the same type in css? So I would need to make a .less file mediaqueries.less and only have one instance of this:
#media only screen and (max-width: 420px), only screen and (max-device-width: 420px){}
and put all the sites code that I want that query to trigger in there, or is it possible to add the same query anywhere you want inside nested less files and im just doing something wrong?
Thanks!
CSS supports multiple identical media queries, if you like, but CSS doesnt support nesting.
LESS, on the other hand, does support a few methods for nesting media queries. You can read about it here: http://lesscss.org/features/#extend-feature-scoping-extend-inside-media
Example:
#media screen {
#media (min-width: 1023px) {
.selector {
color: blue;
}
}
}
Compiles to:
#media screen and (min-width: 1023px) {
.selector {
color: blue;
}
}
LESS also supports nesting media queries below selectors like this:
footer {
width: 100%;
#media screen and (min-width: 1023px) {
width: 768px;
}
}
Compiles to:
footer {
width: 100%;
}
#media screen and (min-width: 1023px) {
footer {
width: 768px;
}
}
If this doesnt answer your question, then please post the relevant part of your LESS file(s).
For media rules on less my recommendation is use Escaping.
Sample
#min768: (min-width: 768px);
.element {
#media #min768 {
font-size: 1.2rem;
}
}