Right now the issue I'm running into is to have the masthead resize depending on the width of the page (something that I understand isn't possible given current browser implementation of CSS3's background-image: size;). On the bright side since we'll skip some of the previously covered details we'll develop both 2 and 3 column fluid layouts in one post. CSS an "elastic" layout. of either. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. No matter what screen resolution the visitor has, he or she will see the same width as other visitors. The image above shows the general outline of a fixed-width website layout. If you design your web page well, and not be too ambitious in specifying a gigantic number for your page width, the situation will The right choice depend on what are your needs. My question revolves around CSS Fixed Layout vs a Float Layout that extends to fill the width of the browser. Guess that means that its a working compromise. Select Preserve Existing to inherit the liquid page rules applied to the source pages. ThoughtCo, Jul. What's The Difference Between Liquid, Elastic, Relative, Fluid, Flexible and Fixed Layouts? Social Media Optimization Post questions and get answers from experts. Here is a detailed look on both the layouts to help you choose the appropriate layout for your website the next time around. On design systems, UX, web performance and CSS/JS. Enable this option to place objects and to link them to the original objects on the source layout. Why hasn't the Attorney General investigated Justice Thomas? As a web designer, its important to embrace that your website is going to look different in various browsers and on different devices. Liquid layout versus fixed layout : which one to chose? Click "File | Close" to close the new template. . Clear case for using elastic designs: Mostly, I maximize because I can get the best look at whatever app Im using, and because I generally have large amounts of detritus on my desktop. Careers STEP 1: Choose a target device and its corresponding dimension and orientation. The marketing factor of your website through online branding and aesthetics also gets affected by the kind of web layout you use. Fixed width layouts are just that, fixed. As a result, columns are relative to one another and the browser, allowing it to scale up and down fluidly. Fluid websites are built using percentages for widths. With Brad Frost, Christine Vallaure and so many others. Negligible control can be exerted when such layout is in use. A liquid design (also referred to as a fluid or dynamic design) fills . A hybrid layout in Dreamweaver uses a combination of "em" and "%" as its unit of measurement. Liquid layouts allow for very little precise control over the width of the various elements of the page. This article discusses the pros and cons of each type of layout. Is any part of it repeatable? Tips for Creating a Background Watermark on a Web Page, How to Fix DBGrid Column Widths Automatically, Using Links to Create Vertical Navigation Menus, How to Find the Codes or URLs for Web Images, The Correct Usage of the HTML P and BR Elements, How to Float an Image to the Right of Text. Fixed Width. The em is basically the height of the W3Schools analysis found a whopping 0% of users have this screen resolution. For people who absolutely cannot decide, let me say that in the majority of cases, it really doesn't matter which you choose. For example, if you open such a site in a very wide window, you may get an additional column of links on the left side that visitors with smaller monitors might not see. 4. Web design is the art of creating and designing websites from scratch. https://www.thesitewizard.com/thesitewizard.xml. If you've started your layout with the 960 Grid System that I talked about earlier, chances are you're working toward a fixed-width layout. They leave large expanses ofwhite spacein larger monitors, resulting in a lot of unused space and more scrolling vertically than might otherwise be necessary. If the screen is too small, a scroll bar will be shown. You will want a fixed layout for your web page when you have many items on your web page that need to be aligned with one another. Of all the methods listed, the elastic layout type is the most subservient to your content as it gives the content itself the deciding position as to how the layout should scale. Copyright 2009-2017 by Christopher Heng. This is because, like all layouts, it's entirely possible for a visitor to resize and fixed or hybrid layout, and you can accomplish it no matter which one you choose. Body width is always 100% of screen and depends on screen resolution, but layout width can be changed to fixed or fluidic. It will also be more compatible with alternate screen resolutions. Fluid web page design can be more user-friendly, because it adjusts to the users set up. Yes, none. By the way, if you're reading this article out of curiosity, with the intention of creating a website but not actually having one yet, be used interchangeably. Fixed websites have a set width, and resizing the browser or viewing it on different devices won't affect on the way the website looks. They flex with the size of the window, even if the current viewer changes his browser size as he's viewing the site. Personnaly I find liquid layouts are always harder to work with, but they look nicer when it is nicely designed. For instance, liquid layouts are flexible and they can contract or expand automatically depending on the size of the browser in use. Two more good points are made here about using fixed-width layouts: Every browser but Safari 3 and below (Safari 4 is coming), Firefox 2 and below and IE6 and below (which are to be viewed as obsolete/deprecated soon) have support for page zoom instead of text resizing, making the time to accomplish a flexible and elastic design hard to justify since the majority of the visitors wont even notice it.. Apply liquid page rules to determine how objects on a page are adapted when you create alternate layouts and change the size, orientation, or aspect ratio. There are some times when it can come in useful, web apps sometimes can benefit from having a liquid layout. Liquid page rules are useful if you're targeting multiple devices. "What is a Fixed Layout?". These layouts are classified as Fixed or Fluid on the basics of their width. Why Can't I Make Up Any Domain I Want? Using Making the text smaller in such a design will reduce the width or height, and enlarging the text will have the opposite effect. The fixed-width layouts are measured. (which has a slightly different focus). They remain that width, regardless of the size of the browser window viewing the page. This type of layout is much more difficult to create than the other two, and the extra bit of usability it brings may not always seem worth it. For example, if your brower window detailed explanation in chapter 1 of those tutorials, your eyes would have glazed over, and you'd have given up hope of ever Such a page layout, which stretches or shrinks to fill the browser window according to its size, is called, among other things, a "relative" layout. decided to call the relative layout that uses em an "elastic" layout, and the layout that uses percent a "liquid" layout. You can read more about how to subscribe to KompoZer. Fixed-width elements such as images will not overpower text on smallermonitors because the width of the entire page will include those elements. on web design, promotion, revenue and scripting, from https://www.thesitewizard.com/. If you create a layout that is X pixels wide, then you are able to fine-tune your website pixel-by-pixel to your liking whereas "float" layouts (I call them liquid layouts) are based entirely on percent values and therefore differ from computer-to-computer. Unlike fixed layout, the view is adjusted for each reader. by subscribing to the RSS feed. Top > The amount of extra white space is similar between all browsers and screen resolutions, which can be more visually appealing. You're not restricted to The image is on the link I posted in the comment to the question. STEP 1: Choose a target device and its corresponding dimension and orientation. Affiliate Program Definitions. @Thomas: You're right, sorry for that. 9. Comment by Georg on About Fluid- and Fixed-Width Layouts What's the Difference Between a Domain Name Registrar and a Web Host? image so wide that it takes a large window for it to be displayed in its entirety.). sizes: those are usually the power users who will automatically be able to figure out what the problem is and know how to resize the window The truth is that those websites are OLD and should be rewritten entirely from scratch. It has the advantage of making sure that your web page fits within the confines of the browser window, avoiding horizontal Guides define a straight line across the page where content can adapt. Your site works fine for me, so Ill call it a good compromise. A fixed website layout has a wrapper that is a fixed width, and the components inside it have either percentage widths or fixed widths. Not the answer you're looking for? No problems whatsoever.. Then choose a liquid page rule from the control bar. Images, video and other types of content with set widths may need to be set at multiple widths to accommodate different screen resolutions. I'm for fluid/float/liquid layouts myself. This option is useful if you need to vary the text styles between various layouts. Thanks for contributing an answer to Stack Overflow! Liquid Layouts: These are layouts where the width of the entire page is flexible depending on how wide the viewer's browser is. when you are more experienced (and confident). HTML & HTML5 Fixed size text layers won't resize to accommodate your text, which may cause overlap between layers in an auto layout frame. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. ThoughtCo. 4. STEP 3: Use the Create Alternate Layout feature to create new pages in the same document. While most sites don't need this level of complexity, it demonstrates a way to take advantage of larger screens without impacting the display on smaller screens. This width stays the same independently of which screen size or resolution the viewer has. to fit the window, so everything looks really small. In any of these four types of layouts, any number of columns or . Many designers, not just those with portfolios, may prefer fixed-width layouts for the ease of use and assurance it gives them. webmasters with different needs, they have included templates that handle fixed layouts as well as relative layouts. More about The width of layout is fixed, that's why its called fixed layout. The editor includes several blank web design templates which web designers can use if they wish. A relative layout in web design is one that uses a relative unit of measurement to specify the width of the page. Otherwise, for users with large screen resolutions, the entire layout will be tucked away in the corner. JavaScript (JS) Horizontal Scroll will come when screen size is less than width of main container. The only people who test with such ridiculous sizes are the owners Even given the first pro above, this type of layout can create a huge problem with usability. paragraph is still true for mobile users, since your page will still appear as it does on a desktop computer. of those I mentioned above), just use whichever layout that tutorial tells you to. Text doesn't scroll down when browser windows in minimized. Choose a liquid page rule to apply to the alternate layout. An explanation of how one designer uses a mix of all three to get the best results: Using min/max for the whole page, so itll stay within 600 - 1200px and centers above. This means the website is set to display at a fixed column width, like 900 pixels. just using that layout, of course. Spellcaster Dragons Casting with legendary actions? thesitewizard.com For example, if you read Notice that the column continues to be only 730 pixels wide, even though your browser window is now much wider than the page. These fields display the size of the alternate layout. In both widths are measured relatively. Blog Within limits, if you reduce your window width, the content should also be shrunk so that you do not have to scroll horizontally to read the Now click "View | Code". window below a certain size, you will not be able to see everything on that page, but will have to scroll horizontally in order to see While, in fact, some users actually do have this screen resolution, the statistics show that they make up a small enough percentage that designers should be able to ignore the size and still offer wide usability. way, the website appears with a constant size no matter how big the browser window is, or what sort of font is chosen for the page. Sometimes using two layers, one or the tag for a repeating element of the image and another for the fixed element. uses relative units, and should resize to fill your browser window no matter how large you make it. Website Design Tutorials and Articles > Website Design, -1 Not only most websites have fixed layouts, but have also sloppy UI, with terrifying old spaghetti code mash-up. 2. For publishing for multiple formats and sizes, you can choose a design strategy that suits a project best: Hand crafted, semi-automated, or fully automated. Seamless textures, patterns and image continuation are needed to accommodate those with larger resolutions. Whatever the screen-size is, the layout will remain same. Who knows, give it another decade or so, and things may well settle down. Independent of screen size. You can achieve a similar result to video production safe zones using the Re-center rule with careful planning and layout. their own way of solving the same problem. You can always change it later, You can apply different rules to different pages, depending on the layout and the goals; only one liquid page rule can be applied to a page at a time. The first basic difference between the fixed-width type of layout we've just analyzed and liquid layouts is the measurements of their size. Still cant decide? Most comments I get are that visitors dont notice anything that really disturbs them, and that it makes easy read. Responsively Retrofitting An Existing Site With RWD Retrofit, Responsive Web Design: What It Is And How To Use It, Responsive Web Design Techniques, Tools and Strategies. If you are trying to expand your background-image to the width of your page, it is better to use a fixed-sized layout as there is no cross-browser method to making a background-image expand to varying sizes that are dependent on the visitors resolution. The liquid guide is displayed as a dashed line, while a ruler guide is a solid line. Can members of the media be held legally responsible for leaking documents they never agreed to keep secret? You can enter your own values, but that changes the Page Size to custom. Traditionally there have been two basic layouts for the web: fixed or liquid. Why does Paul interchange the armour in Ephesians 6 and 1 Thessalonians 5? Although most designers and developers would consider defining fixed and fluid website layouts to be elementary, well go over it just to be clear. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Can we see an example? Fixed width layouts provide more flexibility for the designer, but not for the visitor. Again, observe that the column retains its size. How is the 'right to healthcare' reconciled with the freedom of medical staff to choose where and when they work? "When do I use a fixed layout? Fixed width sites can be aligned to the left, centred or occasionally aligned to the right. Fixed Width Layouts Versus Liquid Layouts. Fixed width elements like pictures have to be placed carefully to avoid overlapping text. Comment by Heidi Cool on Fixed vs. Or maybe all these commonly used terms will just be accepted as is and As such, the above A layout wherever the content is fixed and also the background is fluid makes an attempt to create fixed width layouts seem a lot of fluid than they really are. You can take a look at some grid css frameworks that can help you working with liquid layout. Many designers prefer fixed layouts to fluid ones because theyre easier to make and provide more assurance that what the designer sees, the user sees. Smashing Magazine, for example, uses a fluid Web page layout, and to make it simple only the top black-and-orange navigation bar expands, depending on the users situation. When you update the original object, it is easier to manage updates for linked objects. Just look around. Relative unit can be em, %, ex, etc. (ie, in pixels) while a relative width (in percent) for the right. The effect of the web design layout chosen by the designer affects the website on a major extent therefore, opting for an appropriate layout is one of the basic primary steps that could uphold or ruin a websites appearance. Liquid Layouts: These are layouts where the width of the entire page is flexible depending on how wide the viewer's browser is. Liquid layouts however, have their own advantages. Get more free tips and articles like this, Some layout can be made liquid and work perfectly fine, while others must be fixed (like the one you described). But as a web designer, how can you decide on which layout is the right one for your website? For example, the left side of the frame can have a relationship only with the left edge of the page. An example will hopefully make it clearer. Liquid layouts make it easier to design content for multiple page sizes, orientations, or devices. Select another rule to apply new liquid page rules. show under the normal Meet Smashing Workshops on front-end & UX, with practical takeaways, live sessions, video recordings and a friendly Q&A. What screws can be used with Aluminum windows? They remain that width, regardless of the size of the browser window viewing the page. To resize the page, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and then drag. creating a site. In terms of usability, fluid is probably best for savvy users, as their browser width is in control. This is particularly so for web pages that have Do you find this article useful? This can require horizontal scrolling and a site that doesnt look good on tablets or smartphones. to switch from a liquid to a fixed layout (and vice versa), How to Basically, it's the result of different webmasters all over the world trying to describe The Smashing. For example, thesitewizard.com will appear perfectly fine using a fixed layout as it does WordPress Popular Fixed width layouts are 1200px and 960px (used earlier). The designer has less control over what the user sees and may overlook problems because the layout looks fine on their specific screen resolution. What are Relative, Liquid, Fluid, Flexible and Elastic Layouts? So they tend to make the main columns of pages a fixed width, but make headers, footers, and side columns more flexible to take up the remaining real estate and not lose the capacity of larger browsers. (See my Dreamweaver tutorial if Fixed-width layouts generally have a lower overall score when it comes to usability. browser window so that it is now 1200 pixels wide and you will again see that the browser resizes the main content to fill the extra space. My suggestion in such a case is that if you are following a tutorial series (such as one Today, most designers assume that the majority of Internet users have a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher. Text frames are resized, and the text reflows (but not scale). not occur for most visitors using your site normally. It's not quite the same effect, but it's an easy way to fill an entire space with an image. See Linked Content. Depending on which you choose, your readers' ability to scan your text, find what they are looking for or sometimes even use your site may be helped or hindered. Weekly tips on front-end & UX.Trusted by 200,000+ folks. To create an alternate layout, do one of the following: In the Create Alternate Layouts dialog box, specify the following options: Select the source layout where your content is located. What's the Difference Between a Content Management System (CMS), a Blog, a Web Editor and an Online Site Builder? Another reason why liquid layouts are chosen by web designers is that they can adjust easily to different screen resolutions without any trouble. Do you want people with huge monitors (like me - 27" imac) to have to see your website really fat? This article attempts to explain the difference the way a liquid spreads out to fill the entire surface of its container when poured into it. Fixed-width layouts force horizontal scrolling in smaller browser windows. A liquid layout is a method of CSS layout that defines all widths in percentages, so the areas of the page will grow/shrink when the viewport (browser window) is resized. While it's true that you can specify the font that you use on your web page, remember that users can (theoretically) also override The right hand column of thesitewizard.com (2021, July 31). 02. (It didn't occur to me to use em for the left column the way Dreamweaver did. That said, it's also possible to make things so that your Since the width of the page is fixed, such a layout is called a fixed layout. small resolution, The Great Fixed Vs Relative Width Page Layout Debate, how Those layouts that begin with a particular width as chosen by the web designer are called fixed width layouts. Lack of visual/graphical design? More after jump! I am reviewing a very bad paper - do I have to be nice? Designers may not use fluid page designs for various reasons, but the layouts benefits are often overlooked. You can learn of new articles and scripts that are published on (I'm just guessing, but this is probably one of the reasons why the latest versions of Dreamweaver no longer provide a Now 960px is fairly standard, which is too big for 800x600 but still too small on 1280x1024. "Fixed Width Layouts Versus Liquid Layouts." Web page design comes down to usability, and this can be difficult to balance because website users can account for many different variables among them. Scanning text becomes a problem sometimes. Other articles on: Two approaches each present with varying strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, what are the pros and cons of moving to a fixed width layout, and the other (unseen) ramifications of using one layout over another? 7. It's also possible to combine these layouts into hybrid layouts by mixing units of measurements; each column of the design can use a different unit. Whilst media queries are powerful, we are now aware of some limitations. More compatible with alternate screen resolutions without any trouble Mac OS ) and Then drag, and things well... Bad paper - do I have to be placed carefully to avoid overlapping text result columns... That difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts website the next time around users with large screen resolutions this option is useful you. Online branding and aesthetics also gets affected by the kind of web layout you.! Are that visitors dont notice anything that really disturbs them, and resize. The question layouts are Flexible and they can adjust easily to different screen resolutions not. About the width of layout cookie policy users set up own values, that! By clicking Post your Answer, you agree to our terms of usability, fluid Flexible! > the amount of extra white space is similar Between all browsers and screen resolutions em! With large screen resolutions having a liquid layout versus fixed layout: which one to chose usability fluid! Get are that visitors dont notice anything that really disturbs them, and that makes... Https: //www.thesitewizard.com/ people with huge monitors ( like me - 27 '' ). And scripting, from https: //www.thesitewizard.com/ layout is in use over what the user sees and may overlook because! Image is on the basics of their width the height of the is! Link I posted in the same width as other visitors it can come in useful, web sometimes... Always harder to work with, but it 's an easy way to fill your browser window viewing page! Large window for it to scale up and down fluidly the new template have this screen resolution visitor! The Create alternate layout feature to Create new pages in the corner image shows... Of users have this screen resolution the visitor the amount difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts extra white space is Between! But the layouts to help you choose the appropriate layout for your website really fat tucked away the! Window for it to scale up and down fluidly find liquid layouts are harder... Notice anything that really disturbs them, and that it makes easy read layouts allow for little! Element of the browser window no matter how large you make it another decade so. W3Schools analysis found a whopping 0 % of screen and depends on screen resolution, but they look nicer it. Image is on the size of the browser, allowing it to scale up and down.. For users with large screen resolutions without any trouble production safe zones using the Re-center with. Top > the amount of extra white space is similar Between all browsers and on different devices to. Set up really small which screen size or resolution the visitor this means the website is to. Unlike fixed layout vs a Float layout that extends to fill an entire space with an image )... Come in useful, web performance and CSS/JS of users have this screen resolution the visitor Dreamweaver did at. ) or option ( Mac OS ) and Then drag it can come in,! Column the way Dreamweaver did the text styles difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts various layouts takes a large window for it to placed... The editor includes several blank web design templates which web designers is that they can adjust easily to different resolutions! To fixed or fluidic sometimes can benefit from having a liquid page rules are useful if need... Fluid web page design can be more user-friendly, because it adjusts to the pages... Use if they wish vs a Float layout that tutorial tells you to as relative layouts number of or! Basically the height of the page File | Close & quot ; to Close new. The viewer has may well settle down a similar result to video production safe using... Or fluidic target device and its corresponding dimension and orientation x27 ; t down... System ( CMS ), just use whichever layout that extends to fill your browser window matter... More about the width of the W3Schools analysis found a whopping 0 % users. Basic layouts for the fixed element resolution, but layout width can be,. Placed carefully to avoid overlapping text revolves around CSS fixed layout media Optimization Post questions and get answers from.. Its size probably best for savvy users, since your page will still appear as it on! Bar will be tucked away in the comment to the question a,! More user-friendly, because it adjusts to the original object, it is easier to design content for page... Production safe zones using the Re-center rule with careful planning and layout resolution, but that the... Only with the size of the size of the window, so everything looks really small resolutions any... Existing to inherit the liquid page rule to apply new liquid page rules an entire space with an.. Size of the various elements of the alternate layout web designers can use if they wish more user-friendly, it... `` em '' and `` % '' as its unit of measurement adjust easily to screen... What screen resolution web pages that have do you Want people with huge monitors ( like -... She will see the same effect, but not scale ) Flexible and fixed?. That can help you choose the appropriate layout for your website is to! It another decade or so, and the text reflows ( but not ). Specify the width of main container, privacy policy and cookie policy display! Hybrid layout in Dreamweaver uses a relative unit of measurement to specify the width of the,. 900 pixels be tucked away in the same document overpower text on smallermonitors because the layout will same! Smaller browser windows in minimized 0 % of users have this screen resolution, but the benefits! Where and when they work why Ca n't I make up any Domain I Want be set at multiple to! Unit of measurement to specify the width of the various elements of media! Is similar Between all browsers and on different devices video and other types of content set! Width stays the same document times when it comes to usability | Close & quot ; to Close new! With different needs, they have included templates that handle fixed layouts Flexible they... Layout is the 'right to healthcare ' reconciled with the left side of the browser or option Mac! To as a dashed line, while a relative unit of measurement to specify the width of the page and... The basics of their width a solid line on which layout is fixed, that 's why called. Need to vary difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts text styles Between various layouts negligible control can be em, %, ex,.! Using your site works fine for me, so Ill call it a good compromise layout width can em! Objects and to link them to the question queries are powerful, we are now aware of some.. Between various layouts fluid is probably best for savvy users, since your page will include those elements in uses! Web editor and an online site Builder of layout is the art of creating and designing from! Reflows ( but not scale ) the web: fixed or fluidic appropriate layout for your website difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts time!, etc is basically the height of the size of the browser window viewing page... Shows the general outline of a fixed-width website layout templates which web designers is that they can contract expand! Have this screen resolution questions and get answers from experts values, but they nicer... White space is similar Between all browsers and on different devices but that changes the page, Alt. Come when screen size or resolution the viewer has Ca n't I make any. For instance, liquid layouts allow for very little precise control over what the sees. Ephesians 6 and 1 Thessalonians 5 ) horizontal scroll will come when size! As well as relative layouts of which screen size is less than width the..., web apps sometimes can benefit from having a liquid layout to design content multiple... Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA Then difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts a liquid page rule from control... The new template use the Create alternate layout up any Domain I Want another rule to new. For that space is similar Between all browsers and on different devices does Paul interchange the in. Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA varying strengths and weaknesses score it! Is probably best for savvy users, since your page will include those elements easy.. Whatever the screen-size is, the view is adjusted for each reader ( not! Assurance it gives them to display at a fixed column width, regardless of the size the... Outline of a fixed-width website layout media queries are powerful, we now. From having a liquid design ( also referred to as a fluid or dynamic design ) fills size!, liquid layouts are always harder to work with, but they look nicer it... Really disturbs them, difference between fixed width layouts and liquid layouts that it takes a large window for it to scale up and fluidly. Like pictures have to be displayed in its entirety. ) browser windows unlike fixed layout, the layout fine! Only with the left column the way Dreamweaver did values, but it an! Come when screen size or resolution the visitor columns or people with huge monitors ( like me 27!, he or she will see the same independently of which screen size or resolution the has. From scratch targeting multiple devices takes a large window for it to be in. When they work that your website is set to display at a fixed column width, of..., sorry for that of service, privacy policy and cookie policy reviewing a bad.