What is a fundamental principle of Responsive Web Design?

Question

Options

• ADesign for the largest screen size first.
• BDesign should adapt to the user's behavior and environment.
• CUse of only CSS3 for styling.
• DExclusive focus on desktop browsers.

• A
  4% (1)
• B
  88% (23)
• D
  8% (2)

Explanation

Responsive Web Design (RWD), coined by Ethan Marcotte, is built on the core idea that a website's layout and content should fluidly adapt to the user's behavior and environment - including screen size, platform, and orientation - rather than serving a fixed layout. Option A describes "desktop-first" design, which is actually the opposite of the now-preferred "mobile-first" approach; RWD doesn't mandate starting from either extreme. Option C is wrong because RWD is a design philosophy, not a constraint to a single technology - it uses fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries, but isn't limited to CSS3. Option D contradicts the entire premise of RWD, which explicitly exists to break away from desktop-only thinking and serve all device types.

Memory tip: Think of the word Responsive - a good doctor responds to the patient in front of them, not a fixed template. RWD responds to whoever (and whatever device) shows up.

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