CSS: Media queries

Hello Fellow Codenewbies 👋

So let’s say we have finished styling our app. But on a certain size of the page view, we want to apply a different style to our app. This is the time where media queries come into play.

Media queries are used for responsiveness purposes. It targets some specific types and conditions to apply a different style.

The syntax and explanations

The syntax:

@media () {...}

We put it this way:

@media media-type and (media-conditions) {...}

Media type

Different types of media that we target with media queries.

• screen

  It targets the screen-based device such as mobile phone, tablet, or desktop.

  @media screen (...) {...}

• print

  It targets a document for printing purpose.

  This type allows users to print out a page in a format that we have set the rules on.

  @media print {...}

• speech

  It targets the devices that read the content audibly, such as a screenreader.

  @media speech {...}

• all

  It targets all media types above.

  ⭐ This is what is commonly used.

  @media all and (...) {...}

  When we don’t assign any type, then by default it will fall into all.

  @media (...) {...}

Media condition

Specific conditions that we target with media queries.

Width

• min-width

  Applying specific style from the size of the stated value and bigger.

  When we are doing mobile-first, we start with min-width first and add more rules as we increase the size.

  @media (min-width: ...) {...}

• max-width

  Applying specific style until the stated value.

  When we are designing our app for desktop-first and working our way down, then we better start with max-width.

  @media (max-width: ...) {...}

• Combination of min-width and max-width

  @media (min-width: ...) and (max-width: ...) {...}

  Here’s an example:

  @media (min-width: 400px) and (max-width: 800px) {     .container {        display: flex;     } }

  It means that from width of 400px until 800px, apply display: flex to the element with class container.

Orientation

• portrait

  The orientation when the page view is taller than wide

  @media (orientation: portrait) {...}

• landscape

  The orientation when the page view is wider than tall

  @media (orientation: landscape) {...}

Additional important notes

• Applying both media-types and conditions are optional.

  We don’t need to apply both, but we do have to apply at least one of them.

• To combine media-type with media-condition we have to use and.

  @media screen and (min-width: 640px) and (max-width: 1000px) {...}

• Order is important.

  Sticking to the basic CSS rule, whatever comes next wins. So, we need to apply media queries after the initial style to override it.

  A good way to do this is to put media queries at the bottom, at the end of all initial style codes.

• We have to state the element that we want to modify inside the media queries block scope.

  body {   margin: 0;   padding: 0;}h1 {   color: green;}.container {   margin: 0 auto;}.bigger-paragraph {  font-size: 2rem;}@media (min-width: 500px) and (orientation: landscape) {  h1 {     color: blue;  }  .bigger-paragraph {    font-size: 4rem;  }}

I provide the Codepen below to play with.

Conclusion

• We use media queries for responsiveness purposes.
• The targets of media queries:
  • Media type
    • screen
    • print
    • speech
    • all (default) ⭐
  • Media condition
    • Width
      • min-width
      • max-width
    • Orientation
      • portrait
      • landscape