In web design, what does the term 'responsive design' refer to?

The term 'responsive design' specifically refers to the adjustment of web layouts to different screen sizes. This approach ensures that a website looks and functions well on a variety of devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones, by automatically adapting the layout and elements to fit the screen.

Responsive design uses flexible grids, layouts, and images as well as CSS media queries to achieve this adaptability. The primary goal is to provide an optimal viewing experience for users, making it easier to read text without excessive resizing or scrolling. As more users access the internet on mobile devices, responsive design has become essential for creating effective and user-friendly websites that meet diverse needs.

This concept stands in contrast to fixed-width layouts, which do not change according to device size and can lead to poor usability on smaller screens. Therefore, the emphasis on flexible and adaptive layouts is key to understanding responsive design in web development.