responsive-styling · git:20260118.5e904c1 · 2026-01-18 · sha256 daa38b90371fae93
responsive-styling git:20260118.5e904c1A
Immutable. This exact content never changes and is served at /api/v1/blob/daa38b90371fae93.
---
name: responsive-styling
description: Automatically generate mobile-first responsive CSS/SCSS when creating component styles or mentioning responsive design. Implements standard breakpoints (768px, 1024px), ensures WCAG AA color contrast, creates touch-friendly interfaces (44px minimum targets), adds proper focus indicators, supports reduced motion, scales typography responsively, and provides detailed technical specifications with exact values.
---
# Responsive Styling Skill
## Purpose
Generate mobile-first, responsive CSS/SCSS that works across all devices and follows accessibility best practices.
## When This Skill Activates
This skill automatically activates when:
- User asks to "make it responsive"
- User mentions breakpoints, mobile, tablet, or desktop
- Creating styles for a component
- User asks about media queries
- Responsive design is needed for implementation
## Core Principles
### 1. Mobile-First Approach
Always write base styles for mobile, then enhance for larger screens:
```scss
// ✅ CORRECT: Mobile-first
.component {
font-size: 1rem; // Base mobile style
padding: 1rem;
@media (min-width: 768px) {
font-size: 1.125rem; // Enhance for tablet
padding: 2rem;
}
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
font-size: 1.25rem; // Enhance for desktop
padding: 3rem;
}
}
// ❌ WRONG: Desktop-first
.component {
font-size: 1.25rem;
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
font-size: 1.125rem;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
font-size: 1rem;
}
}
```
### 2. Standard Breakpoints
Use consistent breakpoints:
```scss
// Mobile: 320px - 767px (base styles, no media query)
// Tablet: 768px - 1023px
$breakpoint-tablet: 768px;
// Desktop: 1024px+
$breakpoint-desktop: 1024px;
// Optional additional breakpoints
$breakpoint-mobile-large: 480px;
$breakpoint-tablet-large: 960px;
$breakpoint-desktop-large: 1280px;
```
### 3. Responsive Typography
Scale typography appropriately:
```scss
.heading-1 {
// Mobile base
font-size: 2rem; // 32px
line-height: 1.2;
font-weight: 700;
margin-bottom: 1rem;
// Tablet
@media (min-width: 768px) {
font-size: 2.5rem; // 40px
margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
}
// Desktop
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
font-size: 3rem; // 48px
margin-bottom: 2rem;
}
}
.body-text {
// Mobile base
font-size: 1rem; // 16px
line-height: 1.6;
// Tablet
@media (min-width: 768px) {
font-size: 1.125rem; // 18px
line-height: 1.7;
}
// Desktop
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
font-size: 1.25rem; // 20px
line-height: 1.8;
}
}
```
### 4. Responsive Spacing
Use fluid spacing that scales:
```scss
// Method 1: Stepped spacing
.section {
// Mobile
padding: 2rem 1rem;
margin-bottom: 2rem;
// Tablet
@media (min-width: 768px) {
padding: 3rem 2rem;
margin-bottom: 3rem;
}
// Desktop
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
padding: 4rem 3rem;
margin-bottom: 4rem;
}
}
// Method 2: Fluid spacing with clamp
.section-fluid {
// Scales smoothly between mobile and desktop
padding: clamp(2rem, 5vw, 4rem) clamp(1rem, 3vw, 3rem);
margin-bottom: clamp(2rem, 4vw, 4rem);
}
```
### 5. Responsive Layouts
#### Stacked to Columns
```scss
.card-grid {
display: grid;
gap: 1.5rem;
// Mobile: single column
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
// Tablet: 2 columns
@media (min-width: 768px) {
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
gap: 2rem;
}
// Desktop: 3 columns
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
gap: 3rem;
}
}
```
#### Flexbox Responsive
```scss
.flex-container {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
gap: 1rem;
// Mobile: stack vertically
flex-direction: column;
// Tablet and up: horizontal
@media (min-width: 768px) {
flex-direction: row;
gap: 2rem;
}
.flex-item {
// Mobile: full width
flex: 1 1 100%;
// Tablet: 2 items per row
@media (min-width: 768px) {
flex: 1 1 calc(50% - 1rem);
}
// Desktop: 3 items per row
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
flex: 1 1 calc(33.333% - 1.333rem);
}
}
}
```
## WordPress-Specific Patterns
### Full-Width Sections
```scss
// Handle WordPress core padding
.wp-block-cover {
// Full viewport width accounting for theme padding
width: calc(100vw - var(--wp--style--root--padding-left) - var(--wp--style--root--padding-right));
max-width: none;
// Center it
margin-left: calc(-1 * var(--wp--style--root--padding-left));
margin-right: calc(-1 * var(--wp--style--root--padding-right));
}
```
### Responsive Block Patterns
```scss
// Pattern wrapper
.wp-block-group.pattern-name {
// Mobile
padding: 2rem 1rem;
// Inner content container
.wp-block-group__inner-container {
max-width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
// Tablet
@media (min-width: 768px) {
max-width: 750px;
}
// Desktop
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
max-width: 1200px;
}
}
}
```
## Drupal-Specific Patterns
### Paragraph Responsive Styles
```scss
.paragraph--type--name {
// Mobile base
padding: 2rem 1rem;
// Inner container
.paragraph__content {
max-width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
@media (min-width: 768px) {
padding: 3rem 2rem;
max-width: 750px;
}
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
padding: 4rem 3rem;
max-width: 1200px;
}
}
}
```
### Field Responsive Display
```scss
.field--name-field-items {
display: grid;
gap: 1rem;
// Mobile: stack
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
// Tablet: 2 up
@media (min-width: 768px) {
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
gap: 1.5rem;
}
// Desktop: 3 up
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
gap: 2rem;
}
}
```
## Responsive Images
### Basic Responsive Image
```scss
img {
max-width: 100%;
height: auto;
display: block;
}
```
### Responsive Background Images
```scss
.hero-background {
background-size: cover;
background-position: center;
min-height: 300px;
@media (min-width: 768px) {
min-height: 400px;
}
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
min-height: 600px;
}
}
```
### Art Direction
```scss
.responsive-image {
// Mobile: portrait crop
aspect-ratio: 4/5;
object-fit: cover;
// Tablet: square
@media (min-width: 768px) {
aspect-ratio: 1/1;
}
// Desktop: landscape
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
aspect-ratio: 16/9;
}
}
```
## Touch-Friendly Design
### Minimum Touch Targets
```scss
button,
a,
input,
select {
// Minimum 44x44px for touch
min-height: 44px;
min-width: 44px;
// Larger on very small screens
@media (max-width: 375px) {
min-height: 48px;
min-width: 48px;
}
}
```
### Spacing for Touch
```scss
.touch-menu {
li {
// More spacing on mobile
margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
a {
// Larger tap area
padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
display: block;
}
}
// Less spacing needed on desktop with mouse
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
li {
margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
a {
padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
}
}
}
}
```
## Accessibility in Responsive Design
### Focus Indicators
```scss
a, button, input, select {
&:focus {
outline: 2px solid currentColor;
outline-offset: 2px;
}
// More prominent on mobile
@media (max-width: 767px) {
&:focus {
outline-width: 3px;
}
}
}
```
### Text Readability
```scss
.content {
// Mobile: shorter line length
max-width: 100%;
// Desktop: optimal reading width
@media (min-width: 768px) {
max-width: 65ch; // ~65 characters per line
}
}
```
### Reduced Motion
```scss
// Respect user's motion preferences
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
*,
*::before,
*::after {
animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
}
}
```
## Common Responsive Patterns
### Hide/Show Elements
```scss
// Show only on mobile
.mobile-only {
display: block;
@media (min-width: 768px) {
display: none;
}
}
// Hide on mobile
.desktop-only {
display: none;
@media (min-width: 768px) {
display: block;
}
}
// Tablet and up
.tablet-up {
display: none;
@media (min-width: 768px) {
display: block;
}
}
```
### Responsive Navigation
```scss
.main-nav {
// Mobile: hamburger menu
@media (max-width: 767px) {
.menu-toggle {
display: block;
}
.menu-items {
display: none;
&.is-open {
display: block;
position: fixed;
top: 60px;
left: 0;
right: 0;
background: white;
padding: 1rem;
}
}
}
// Desktop: horizontal menu
@media (min-width: 768px) {
.menu-toggle {
display: none;
}
.menu-items {
display: flex;
gap: 2rem;
}
}
}
```
### Responsive Typography System
```scss
// Define fluid typography
:root {
// Scales from 16px to 20px
--font-size-base: clamp(1rem, 0.9rem + 0.5vw, 1.25rem);
// Scales from 32px to 48px
--font-size-h1: clamp(2rem, 1.5rem + 2vw, 3rem);
// Scales from 24px to 32px
--font-size-h2: clamp(1.5rem, 1.25rem + 1vw, 2rem);
// Scales from 20px to 24px
--font-size-h3: clamp(1.25rem, 1.125rem + 0.5vw, 1.5rem);
}
body {
font-size: var(--font-size-base);
}
h1 {
font-size: var(--font-size-h1);
}
h2 {
font-size: var(--font-size-h2);
}
h3 {
font-size: var(--font-size-h3);
}
```
## Testing Checklist
When generating responsive styles, ensure:
- [ ] Mobile base styles defined first
- [ ] Breakpoints use min-width (mobile-first)
- [ ] Touch targets are 44px minimum
- [ ] Text is readable at all sizes
- [ ] Images scale properly
- [ ] Layouts don't break at any width
- [ ] Horizontal scrolling is prevented
- [ ] Focus indicators are visible
- [ ] Reduced motion is respected
- [ ] Content is accessible at 320px width
- [ ] Layout works up to 2560px width
## Output Format
When generating responsive styles, provide:
```scss
/* Component Name */
/* Mobile base styles (320px - 767px) */
.component {
/* All base styles here */
}
/* Tablet (768px - 1023px) */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
.component {
/* Tablet enhancements */
}
}
/* Desktop (1024px+) */
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
.component {
/* Desktop enhancements */
}
}
/* Accessibility */
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
/* Reduced motion styles */
}
```
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ **Desktop-first** (using max-width)
❌ **Magic numbers** (random breakpoints)
❌ **Forgetting touch targets**
❌ **Fixed pixel widths** that don't scale
❌ **Tiny text on mobile** (<16px)
❌ **Horizontal scrolling**
❌ **Ignoring landscape mobile**
❌ **Breaking at intermediate sizes**
✅ **Mobile-first** (using min-width)
✅ **Consistent breakpoints**
✅ **44px minimum touch targets**
✅ **Flexible widths** with max-width
✅ **16px minimum text**
✅ **Contained content**
✅ **Test at 320px, 768px, 1024px**
✅ **Test at all widths**