Adaptive Web Design
Adaptive Web Design is a web development approach that creates multiple fixed layout versions of a website optimized for specific device screen sizes, such as mobile, tablet, and desktop. It uses server-side detection to determine the user's device and serves the appropriate pre-designed layout, rather than fluidly adjusting a single design. This method ensures tailored user experiences across different devices but requires maintaining separate codebases for each layout.
Developers should use Adaptive Web Design when targeting specific device categories with distinct design requirements, such as for complex applications or content-heavy sites where performance and precise control over each layout are critical. It is particularly useful for legacy systems or when rapid loading on mobile devices is a priority, as it avoids downloading unnecessary assets for other screen sizes. However, it is less flexible than responsive design for handling the wide variety of modern devices.