Last updated on December 28th, 2023
I was a child in the days before cell phones did not have screens, and computer modems would make strange noises when connected to the “World Wide Web.” To me, the notion of having a computer in my palm was something that only was seen in sci-fi films or Saturday morning cartoons. But now we’re in a time when the world has become mobile.
When Apple launched its iPhone in 2007, only a handful of people could have predicted how drastically the phone would change our relationship with technology and the internet as well as society. To put things in context, in 2012 global mobile data traffic was 1.12 Exabytes per day. In 2022? 77.49 exabytes. The rapid growth of the mobile market is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before.
Since 2018, half of all internet traffic has been attributed to tablets and smartphones. It’s just data transfer and not much else. If we study the share in the market, then we begin to see a different image. By 2023 phones will have almost 60 percent of the overall market however computers make up about 40 percent. There is a possibility that we can transfer more information via PCs however the market for smartphone users is larger.
In the second quarter of 2022, investors call Activision Blizzard, the studio behind the hugely popular games World of Warcraft and the hugely popular Call of Duty, reported that their mobile division had made more revenue than all of their games combined. The reason? A small game is known as Candy Crush. The indicators are there that we must target the market for mobile app development.
Mobile-First CSS
The term “mobile-first CSS” is defined in various ways. It’s a philosophical concept in mobile app development that the mobile user experience should be at the forefront and the heart of the development of software. This means that you must give importance to the requirements for the market of mobile phones.
From a programming standpoint from a coding perspective, mobile-first CSS is the process of writing the styling of the interface in those devices with smaller screens that can access the directions without needing to go through the instruction for desktops. This is writing code specifically for mobile devices first.
The question is: what is the reason?
- The experience of a desktop is unlike mobile. It differs from the dimension of the screen to the way you interact with it. Taps and scrolling are quite different than using the mouse.
- Because smart devices frequently transmit data using metered connections that incur extra costs and data efficiency is vitally important.
- Signals from phones are generally less reliable than internet access for desktops This means that websites that require a lot of data may not be able to load correctly due to poor connections or slow internet speeds.
That is there is a lot more to consider. Not only is the user base that could be accessed via mobile devices larger, but there are also more factors to be considered which make the creation of web applications or web pages more difficult. I can assure you that browsing an online page created for mobile devices on a computer is much less stressful as opposed to the other way around.
Also Read: How can ChatGPT help You to build Apps from Scratch?
Building From the Ground Up
Since web development exists for much long time, it’s not a surprise that the most common approaches for creating web pages are focused in the first place on desktop-based experience. An example is to write a lengthy style sheet and then make use of max-width queries at the end of the code to “undo” the extra stuff to work on desktop devices.
It’s like the procedure follows the same pattern “I’ve got my big screen and now I have to figure out the maximum width of the mobile device to adjust my page.” It’s a desktop-first strategy.
A different approach is called progressive enhancement. In this method, the web page becomes more advanced when the device becomes larger or has more power. The process begins by making an online page that is designed using the lowest common factor and after that, adding more and more features to other devices.
In this way, we can ensure that the main functions of our web application will work on all devices that run from a large-screen laptop to the smallest smartphones.
Building for the Future
If there’s a common thread when it comes to mobile phones it’s that there’s no absolute. Smartphones are constantly getting larger and tablets are available in all possible dimensions and shapes. The challenge of creating a style that is based on the dimensions of the device can be an issue that is waiting to be solved.
However, the size of the page must be determined by the content. Also, breakpoints shouldn’t be designed to fit specific screen sizes, instead, they should be determined by what content needs to be moved based on the space available. This may require a shift in the way we think but once it’s done the right way, it’s not that difficult.
What About Images?
Images are the biggest problem for mobile-first websites. They not only consume a significant amount of space but, they are also very difficult to adapt to every available device. As opposed to images a lot of developers are opting to use CSS3 typographic icons and gradients to provide light alternatives.
If you are required to display images, you should consider using diverse images that are compatible with different devices. The effect on storage is not significant however, in terms of the transfer of data, there’s an enormous difference between downloading a high-resolution image and a 480 picture.
Is It Necessary?
When it’s true that mobile-first CSS is so crucial and necessary, why isn’t everyone using it already? As I’ve mentioned earlier the internet is quite a bit more dated than smartphones, and certain methods have become so commonplace that it’s difficult to change the routine. I tend to spend the majority of my time programming in front of a computer’s screen. Ask me to think of a web page, and my mind will imagine a computer screen. It’s normal for us to be biased towards our tools of work.
Are You Looking for Assistance from a Mobile App Development Company?
The reality is that the market for mobile phones is growing and the gap between PC and mobile is shrinking by the day. We must start thinking about mobiles not as a snooty alternative to our big screens, but instead as the type of technology that is now widespread. As the market develops as do our chances to connect with new customers. The old saying says you must strike when you can.
iTechnolabs is a company equipped with web & mobile app developers who can take your business to the next level. When looking for mobile-first CSS or developing mobile applications, you know your spot. We will be happy to have you.
