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

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

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

  or

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

  or

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

  • 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.

    📝 Applying min-width and max-width:

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

    📖 From width of 400px until 800px apply display: flex to the element with class container.

• Orientation

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

  or

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

  • portrait
    The orientation when the page view is taller than wide
  • landscape
    The orientation when the page view is wider than tall

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