What is Adaptive Layout

What is Adaptive Layout?

Adaptive layout or Adaptive design is an approach to application design that creates various fixed layouts that adapt to the user's screen size. It is also known as progressive enhancement.

An app with adaptive design detects the type of device the user has and adapts the template to fit the screen, thus providing the best possible user experience.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Adaptive Layout

Adaptive layout has a number of great advantages:

• It gives the developer more control over the web product’s elements.
• It optimizes ads for corresponding user interfaces
• High download speed

• A time-consuming adaptation process for each type of device
• If the designer only focuses on PC and smartphones, then users of other devices may get an unoptimized interface
• Possible SEO issues.

How can you know whether adaptive design is right for you?

When deciding on an approach, it’s important to consider your audience first. Determining which devices your app will run on most often makes it easier to design the content and layout.

Adaptive design is recommended for the following:

• adding a mobile version to an existing website
• sites that depend on speed
• more personalized and targeted interface

What’s the difference between Adaptive Layout and Responsive Layout?

Adaptive Layout and a href="/glossary/responsive-layout/">Responsive Layout are two approaches to designing websites and apps for various devices. Responsive layout consists of a single layout whose content is adjusted according to the user's screen. Adaptive layouts are various fixed layouts that adapt to the user’s screen size.

Responsive layout is a faster and more economical option at the development stage as well as during site maintenance. Adaptive layout is a more labor-intensive process requiring a larger budget at each stage of development.

Learn more about mobile app wireframing.