What does "adaptive design" refer to?

Adaptive design refers to the practice of creating different layouts for various screen sizes. This approach recognizes that users access content on a wide range of devices, each with its own unique display characteristics, including size, resolution, and orientation. By developing multiple fixed layouts tailored to specific screen dimensions, adaptive design ensures that the user experience is optimized for each device.

This strategy enhances readability and usability, preventing issues such as text being too small or images being improperly scaled. It also allows designers not only to meet the aesthetic needs of a particular device but also to enhance functionality, thereby improving the overall user experience. Each layout can be specifically crafted to take full advantage of the screen real estate available, allowing for a more focused presentation of content that is tailored to the user's needs, making it a significant principle in responsive web design.