Responsive Patterns Skill

Responsive Patterns

Modern responsive design patterns using Container Queries, fluid typography, and mobile-first strategies for React applications (2026 best practices).

Overview

Building reusable components that adapt to their container
Implementing fluid typography that scales smoothly
Creating responsive layouts without media query overload
Building design system components for multiple contexts
Optimizing for variable container sizes (sidebars, modals, grids)

Core Concepts

Container Queries vs Media Queries

| Feature | Media Queries | Container Queries | |---------|---------------|-------------------| | Responds to | Viewport size | Container size | | Component reuse | Context-dependent | Truly portable | | Browser support | Universal | Baseline 2023+ | | Use case | Page layouts | Component layouts |

Modern CSS Layout

Load Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/rules/css-subgrid.md") for CSS Subgrid patterns: nested grid alignment, card layouts with aligned titles/content/actions, two-dimensional subgrid.

Load Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/rules/css-intrinsic-responsive.md") for intrinsically responsive layouts: auto-fit/minmax grids, clamp() for fluid everything, container queries for component logic, zero media query patterns.

Load Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/rules/responsive-foldables.md") for foldable/multi-screen device support: env(safe-area-inset-*), viewport segment queries, dual-screen layouts, progressive enhancement.

Key patterns covered: CSS Subgrid alignment, intrinsic responsive grids (auto-fit + minmax), fluid clamp() scales, foldable device layouts, safe area insets, viewport segment queries.

CSS Patterns

Load Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/rules/css-patterns.md") for complete CSS examples: container queries, cqi/cqb units, fluid typography with clamp(), mobile-first breakpoints, CSS Grid patterns, and scroll-queries.

Key patterns covered: Container Query basics, Container Query Units (cqi/cqb), Fluid Typography with clamp(), Container-Based Fluid Typography, Mobile-First Breakpoints, CSS Grid Responsive Patterns, Container Scroll-Queries (Chrome 126+).

React Patterns

Load Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/rules/react-patterns.md") for complete React examples: ResponsiveCard component, Tailwind container queries, useContainerQuery hook, and responsive images.

Key patterns covered: Responsive Component with Container Queries, Tailwind CSS Container Queries, useContainerQuery Hook, Responsive Images Pattern.

Accessibility Considerations

/* IMPORTANT: Always include rem in fluid typography */
/* This ensures user font preferences are respected */

/* ❌ WRONG: Viewport-only ignores user preferences */
font-size: 5vw;

/* ✅ CORRECT: Include rem to respect user settings */
font-size: clamp(1rem, 0.5rem + 2vw, 2rem);

/* User zooming must still work */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  /* Use em/rem, not px, for breakpoints in ideal world */
  /* (browsers still use px, but consider user zoom) */
}

Anti-Patterns (FORBIDDEN)

/* ❌ NEVER: Use only viewport units for text */
.title {
  font-size: 5vw; /* Ignores user font preferences! */
}

/* ❌ NEVER: Use cqw/cqh (use cqi/cqb instead) */
.card {
  padding: 5cqw; /* cqw = container width, not logical */
}
/* ✅ CORRECT: Use logical units */
.card {
  padding: 5cqi; /* Container inline = logical direction */
}

/* ❌ NEVER: Container queries without container-type */
@container (min-width: 400px) {
  /* Won't work without container-type on parent! */
}

/* ❌ NEVER: Desktop-first media queries */
.element {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .element {
    grid-template-columns: 1fr; /* Overriding = more CSS */
  }
}

/* ❌ NEVER: Fixed pixel breakpoints for text */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  body { font-size: 18px; } /* Use rem! */
}

/* ❌ NEVER: Over-nesting container queries */
@container a {
  @container b {
    @container c {
      /* Too complex, reconsider architecture */
    }
  }
}

Browser Support

| Feature | Chrome | Safari | Firefox | Edge | |---------|--------|--------|---------|------| | Container Size Queries | 105+ | 16+ | 110+ | 105+ | | Container Style Queries | 111+ | ❌ | ❌ | 111+ | | Container Scroll-State | 126+ | ❌ | ❌ | 126+ | | cqi/cqb units | 105+ | 16+ | 110+ | 105+ | | clamp() | 79+ | 13.1+ | 75+ | 79+ | | Subgrid | 117+ | 16+ | 71+ | 117+ |

Rules

Each category has individual rule files in rules/ loaded on-demand:

| Category | Rule | Impact | Key Pattern | |----------|------|--------|-------------| | Modern CSS Layout | rules/css-subgrid.md | HIGH | CSS Subgrid for nested grid alignment, card layouts | | Modern CSS Layout | rules/css-intrinsic-responsive.md | HIGH | Intrinsic responsive layouts, auto-fit/minmax, clamp(), zero breakpoints | | Modern CSS Layout | rules/responsive-foldables.md | MEDIUM | Foldable devices, safe area insets, viewport segments | | CSS | rules/css-patterns.md | HIGH | Container queries, cqi/cqb, fluid typography, grid, scroll-queries | | React | rules/react-patterns.md | HIGH | Container query components, Tailwind, useContainerQuery, responsive images | | PWA | rules/pwa-service-worker.md | HIGH | Workbox caching strategies, VitePWA, update management | | PWA | rules/pwa-offline.md | HIGH | Offline hooks, background sync, install prompts | | Animation | rules/animation-motion.md | HIGH | Motion presets, AnimatePresence, View Transitions | | Animation | rules/animation-scroll.md | MEDIUM | CSS scroll-driven animations, parallax, progressive enhancement | | Touch & Mobile | rules/touch-interaction.md | HIGH | Touch targets (44px min), thumb zones, pinch-to-zoom, safe areas, gestures |

Total: 10 rules across 6 categories

Key Decisions

| Decision | Option A | Option B | Recommendation | |----------|----------|----------|----------------| | Query type | Media queries | Container queries | Container for components, Media for layout | | Container units | cqw/cqh | cqi/cqb | cqi/cqb (logical, i18n-ready) | | Fluid type base | vw only | rem + vw | rem + vw (accessibility) | | Mobile-first | Yes | Desktop-first | Mobile-first (less CSS, progressive) | | Grid pattern | auto-fit | auto-fill | auto-fit for cards, auto-fill for icons |

Related Skills

design-system-starter - Building responsive design systems
ork:performance - CLS, responsive images, and image optimization
ork:i18n-date-patterns - RTL/LTR responsive considerations

Capability Details

container-queries

Keywords: @container, container-type, inline-size, container-name Solves: Component-level responsive design

fluid-typography

Keywords: clamp(), fluid, vw, rem, scale, typography Solves: Smooth font scaling without breakpoints

responsive-images

Keywords: srcset, sizes, picture, art direction Solves: Responsive images for different viewports

mobile-first-strategy

Keywords: min-width, mobile, progressive, breakpoints Solves: Efficient responsive CSS architecture

grid-flexbox-patterns

Keywords: auto-fit, auto-fill, subgrid, minmax Solves: Responsive grid and flexbox layouts

container-units

Keywords: cqi, cqb, container width, container height Solves: Sizing relative to container dimensions

References

Load on demand with Read("${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/<file>"): | File | Content | |------|---------| | container-queries.md | Container query patterns | | fluid-typography.md | Accessible fluid type scales |

Agent Skills: Responsive Patterns

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Skill Files