I have been using and learning CSS3 a fair bit of late and enjoying its many capabilities. Right now I am wondering if it is possible to setup a CSS rule that assigns a block element width conditionally. The sort of thing I am after - if the screenwidth is less than, say 500px, use a width of 320px otherwise use a width of, say, 80%, of screen size.
Yes, I realize I could do this sort of thing through JavaScript - just wondering if there isn't a more elegant CSS3 approach.
Yes, it is very much possible using CSS media queries - http://www.css3.info/preview/media-queries/
.mydiv {
width: 80%; /* normal case */
}
/* special case if screen width < 500 */
#media all and (max-width: 500px) {
.mydiv {
width: 320px;
}
}
#media only screen and (max-width: 500px) {
// CSS rules go here
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 501px) and (max-width: 959px) {
// CSS rules go here
}
#media only screen and (min-width: 960px) {
// CSS rules go here
}
etc...
From the W3C
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've been stuck on the following problem for a while now.
#media screen and (min-width: 414px) and (max-width: 600px) {
/* appropriate code */
}
#media screen and (min-width: 601px) and (max-width: 767px) {
/* appropriate code */
}
The issue I have is that when a screen is on the specific width of 767px, no styling is applied. What really confuses me is that on the other hand the specific width of 600px does work, while both are the max-width value of their respective media query. I have had this issue with other similar media queries but decided to simply provide you with those two to make my problem clear. I have tried out several things (verifying zoom value of browser, trying on different browser) but it doesn't seem to work. At first I thought it might be a bug but it's a recuring problem. Do any of you have an idea as to what might be the problem?
It's working correctly on my side. But for more accuracy, you can use decimal values like so.
/* 414 -> 413.7 600 -> 600.3 */
#media screen and (min-width: 413.7px) and (max-width: 600.3px) {
div {
color: red;
}
}
/* 601 -> 600.7 767 -> 767.3 */
#media screen and (min-width: 600.7px) and (max-width: 767.3px) {
div {
color: blue;
}
}
<div>Hello</div>
When min-width is used, it means the lowest width and styles are set for the higher width
When max-width is used, it means the maximum width and styles are set for the width less than that
When both are used, styles are applied when the width between the values is entered
#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)
{
}
Bootstrap includes some default media queries that look like this:
#media (min-width: 768px) {
/* Pull out the header and footer */
.masthead {
position: fixed;
top: 0;
}
#media (min-width: 992px) {
.masthead,
.mastfoot,
.cover-container {
width: 700px;
}
Why don't these include the max-width variable? Is that inherently implied by just using min-width, i.e. does CSS just simply "know" to take the highest min-width possible?
It has to do with logic.
TL;DR: See it as if/else statements in you code. You only add the max if you want a max specified.
You can read it like this:
#Div{ color: green; }
#media (min-width: 992px) {
#Div{ background: pink; }
}
This reads:
Make font->green, and also
if( min-screen-width at least 992px ) BG -> pink
If you would have maxwidth it goes with the same logic, only as maximum.
If you have both:
#Div{ color: green; }
#media (min-width: 500px) and (max-width: 992px){
#Div{ background: pink; }
}
This reads:
Make font->green, and also
if( min-screen-width atleast 500px AND a maximum of 992px ) BG -> pink
Easy demo for max-width, make something tablet resolution only (asuming everything 1024+ is desktop):
#media (min-width: 1024px) { /* ... */ }
There is a tendency to design for the smaller screen (ie. mobile) first and use media queries to target larger screens (ie. desktop) users. This is what you are seeing in the Bootstrap CSS.
The main stylesheet applies to the mobile browser (in fact all browsers). Then a media query is used to target slightly larger screens to apply specific rules:
#media (min-width: 992px) {
This targets window sizes greater than (or equal to) 992px (ie. whose minimum width is 992px).
There is no max-width specified here, so this applies to all large windows.
What should be really simple is not working at all. I just want to set a div to display none until the width is greater than 980px. However it only works while the screen is at 980px but nothing more or less than that!!
/* Should work while screen is 980px or less */
#media (max-width: 980px) {
.large-screen-hide{
display: none;
}
}
I think you need to check for both min-width and max-width.
Try
/* Should work while screen is 980px or less */
#media screen and (min-width: 1px) and (max-width: 980px) {
.large-screen-hide{
display: none;
}
}
From CSS Media Queries on the Mozilla Developer Network.
u need to set the type of media
#media screen and (max-width:980px){
.large-screen-hide {
display:none;
}
}