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HTML How to Make a Website Responsive Web Design and Testing Adding Breakpoints for Devices

Emmanuel Rojas
Emmanuel Rojas
6,994 Points

Breakpoints

Hi! I'm still trying to get the breakpoints, using min-width in my media queries make sense, but using max-width do not make any sense. My understanding is if my max-width is 768px, and my device is smaller than that, my device is going to read that media queries too, because max-width goes from 0 to the breakpoint, in this case, 768px. Am I right?

1 Answer

Yes, you are correct.

Generally, we don't use max-width for media queries. Only min-width. The reason why is related to mobile-first design (https://teamtreehouse.com/library/how-to-make-a-website/css-cascading-style-sheets/take-a-mobilefirst-approach).

Essentially, your base rules (no media query) applies to all situations (including mobile). Then, you add additional rules at certain 'min-width'(s), depending on your design.

So, using 768px (BTW, don't get 'brain-washed' by this number. Pay attention to your actual design requirements), for example, means that on a 'small tablet,' the design will be progressively enhanced to take advantage of more screen space.

For example, maybe the 'base' navigation menu is 'collapsed,' and then changes to tabs as these CSS rules 'kick in' at min-width: 768px.