Wondering how to create a Responsive Website using Bootstrap? We have got you covered. In this article, we will go through a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to make responsive websites (with Bootstrap).
What is Bootstrap?
For those who are unfamiliar with Bootstrap, it is a popular CSS framework that can be used to construct the front end of a website, i.e., design. It is adaptable enough to allow you to create a website that meets your needs and may be customised as needed.
There is no need to be an expert to create a responsive website. Bootstrap allows you to simply design a responsive website. But what is a responsive website?
A responsive website may be accessed on numerous screen sizes that are relevant to all of the devices that we use regularly. The ability to show off your website to a large range of people using several devices offers a better user experience. If you want to kickstart a career in web development, consider a credible course online that will propel your career in the right direction.
Basic Setup
Step 1: Initial Viewport and Scale
The first step is to correctly configure a responsive Bootstrap. The code below defines a meta element that instructs the browser to set the width of the webpage to the width of the device. It also set the scale to 1, which corresponds to the default webpage. In brief, we inform the browser that we want to create a responsive website. You can put this code into your web pages.
<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0”>
Step 2: Connecting Bootstrap
It is now time to connect the Bootstrap libraries. It’s as simple as entering the code below. To make the code function, you must download and unpack Bootstrap to your development folder. As indicated in the figure below, it will create two directories within your primary development folder.
Now use the following code and put it in the index.html file below the viewpoint meta tag.
<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”css/bootstrap.css”> <link rel=”stylesheet” href=”css/bootstrap-responsive.css”>
Starting the Building Process
A responsive website primarily has five major components:
- Navigation
- Information area
- Contents section
- Right Sidebar
- Footer.
1. Navigation
The navigation bar remains at the top of the page. Aside from that, it might also provide important information such as the website’s name. To make sure it works, use the “navbar” class as indicated in the code below.
<nav class=”navbar fixed-top navbar-expand-md navbar-light bg-light”>
Other classes used here such as fixed-top, navbar-light, and bg-light control the text nature, and its background. Now, we can add more code.
<nav class=”navbar fixed-top navbar-expand-md navbar-light bg-light”> <div class=”container”> <! — more navigation code here → </div> </nav>
The above code defines a container div that can be used to store and tweak the navigation content.
<nav class=”navbar fixed-top navbar-expand-md navbar-light bg-light”> <div class=”container”> <a class=”navbar-brand” href=”#”>Responsive Bootstrap Website</a> <button class=”navbar-toggler” type=”button” data-toggle=”collapse” data-target=”#navbarCollapse” aria-controls=”navbarCollapse” aria-expanded=”false” aria-label=”Toggle navigation”> <span class=”navbar-toggler-icon”></span> </button> <div class=”collapse navbar-collapse” id=”navbarCollapse”> <! — left navigation links → <ul class=”navbar-nav mr-auto”> <! — active navigation link → <li class=”nav-item active”> <a class=”nav-link” href=”#”>Home <span class=”sr-only”>(current)</span> </a> </li> <! — regular navigation link → <li class=”nav-item”> <a class=”nav-link” href=”#”>About</a> </li> <! — more navigation links → <li class=”nav-item”> <a class=”nav-link” href=”#”>Blog</a> </li> </ul> <! — right navigation link → <ul class=”nav navbar-nav ml-auto”> <li class=”nav-item”> <a class=”nav-link” href=”#”>Login</a> </li> <li class=”nav-item”> <a class=”nav-link” href=”#”>Register</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav>
We used predefined classes to generate branding and menu elements. We also marked the Home menu item so that visitors know which page they are on. Additionally, we used collapse navbar-collapse. When seen on a smaller screen, it stacks the menu.
2. Information area
The necessary information can be put on the website using the jumbotron class. We will use the div tag. Here is the code:
<div class=”jumbotron”> <h1 class=”display-2">Learn How To Make Responsive Bootstrap Website</h1> <p class=”lead”>Register Now To Get Access To The Tutorial</p> <a class=”btn btn-lg btn-primary” href=”#” role=”button”>Get 10% Discount NOW</a> </div
The other two classes here are the display-2 and btn btn-primary btn-lg classes. They generate big content for the website centre.
3. Contents section
To ascertain that we make the contents section responsive as well, we use the col-md-8 mb-4, col-md-4 mb-4. We use the Flexbox bootstrap grid system.
The col-md-* is the foundation of the entire structure. It is a two-column layout that will be shown when the website detects a medium-sized screen. Similarly, if a smaller screen is found, col-xs-* will be activated. The classes are entirely up to you, as you must determine which screen sizes to target.
The only thing to bear in mind is that bootstrap supports a total of 12 columns. This indicates that you should only include classes that add up to 12. If not done correctly, the code will not function properly. You may also use the row class within columns and stack them using a div element. Consider the following:
<! — nested columns → <div class=”row”> <! — first nested column → <div class=”col-md”> <h3 class=”display-4">A complete introduction to Bootstrap</h3> <p> Get to know Boostrap as a child </p> <a href=”#” class=”btn btn-primary”>Learn More</a> </div> <! — second nested column → <div class=”col-md”> <h3 class=”display-4">Learn Web Development The Right Way</h3> <p> Want to become a full-time web developer? </p> <a href=”#” class=”btn btn-primary”>Learn More</a> </div> <! — third nested column → <div class=”col-md”> <h3 class=”display-4">Check out collection of books</h3> <p> Get best books, the right way to learn </p> <a href=”#” class=”btn btn-primary”>Learn More</a> </div> </div>
4. Right Sidebar
On our website, we will place the vertical navigation list in the sidebar. To do so, simply enter the code below.
<ul class=”nav nav-pills flex-column”> <li class=”nav-item”> <a class=”nav-link active” href=”#”>Key tutorials</a> </li> <li class=”nav-item”> <a class=”nav-link” href=”#”>Learn from experts</a> </li> <! — more links → </ul>
5. Footer
The footer contains any copyright information or corporate information. Simply run the code below to create the footer.
<footer class=”container mt-4"> <div class=”row”> <div class=”col”> <p class=”text-center”>Design by <a href=”#”>Aliens</a></p> </div> </div> </footer>
Bootstrap responsive website examples
Wokine is a worldwide digital agency and startup studio that combines creativity, modernity, and aesthetics. This bootstrap website makes use of digital marketing and is ready to increase the trust of the company. The online design is made even more intriguing by the incorporation of GSAP animation, resulting in delicate and fluid motions of web components that are genuinely stunning. A sticky sidebar is also used to keep the social network icons visible.
Cuberto is a digital studio that specialises in UI/UX design as well as the creation of mobile apps and websites. The webpage has a minimal style yet includes many web features to communicate the content. Because it incorporates the GSAP animation, the transition effect, animation upon scroll, and hover effect significantly improve the appearance of the website. Each of the showcased projects has a distinctive split-screen layout and colour scheme.
Conclusion
Bootstrap is a very efficient tool to make responsive websites. As you may be aware, creating a responsive website is a must. Any site that does not check the responsiveness box suffers from a bad user experience as well as a drop in ranks, as Google dislikes unfriendly websites. Therefore, operators should consider making existing websites responsive with bootstrap to attract more and more users to the website.
