Year after year, people worldwide anticipate the launch of new models of different gadgets and devices in the market, as most of the population try to keep up with the latest fad. This trend flourished during the pandemic as more and more individuals started to rely on digital platforms to work, study and socialise.
Many devices have become increasingly popular across various generations, but the majority of the population continue to stick to desktop computers, smartphones and laptops. However, it is no secret that this range of devices has defining features and characteristics that set them apart from each other. Not to mention, different models differ in design as well.
With that said, it only fits that business owners must be aware of methods to keep up with the gradual changes of tech gadgets in the market. As it stands, it isn’t enough to accommodate the idea of having a website, as it is better not to have any at all if you’re not going to give it full functionality across multiple devices.
Fortunately, there are two known ways one can set up their website to adapt to diverse types of devices today: adaptive and responsive website designs. However, most people confuse one from the other since they have a similar objective to make it easier for online users to interact with the website when viewed from different gadgets.
So to clear up the misconceptions about these two distinct designs, here is a brief guide that defines and compares both to know which one suits your brand the most.
Responsive Website Design
In web development, responsive web design is a technique in rendering a website to fit nicely on various window screen sizes and orientations. It makes use of flexible grids, layouts, images and codes.
The concept behind a responsive website design is to have it automatically adapt to the device used by the online user to view or open it. Thus, when a user switches from a smartphone to a laptop, the website must immediately transition to fit the other screen.
Adaptive Website Design
In a similar sense, adaptive web design also aims to have a specific website accommodate other types of gadgets. But instead of rendering one layout or design to fit any, it involves creating multiple versions of a website and its pages to serve a particular device better.
One can create up to six different layouts with varying resolutions. Currently, it is famous for retrofitting existing websites to make them more mobile-friendly, as it would be more difficult and expensive to start from scratch with a responsive web design.
Comparing Both Website Designs
Both website design techniques can be beneficial depending on the situation. A responsive website is a lot easier to build and maintain. However, it offers less control and more complex coding. Meanwhile, an adaptive website can become more tedious as you need to prepare different layouts, but it offers massive control over other elements. It’s also more cost-efficient to use adaptive web design for existing websites, while it would be cheaper to opt for responsive web design for building new websites.
The Perfect Approach for Your Website
With all that said, it is apparent that the perfect website design approach for you will heavily rely on your current needs and circumstances. As mentioned above, each technique has its benefits. Thus, you will have to weigh your available options to see which fits the goal you have in mind when building or enhancing your website.
Frank Digital Agency is a reliable firm that specialises in a variety of digital marketing services. We aspire to assist all our clients in achieving success one step at a time, starting from web development to online advertising. Contact us today for a free consultation!
