Datasheet

CHAPTER ONE FUTUREPROOF SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES

Reference

An article I have written shows how the formats of layouts are changing. Not

too long ago, you had only ﬁ xed, ﬂ uid, and elastic to contend with. Today, you

have no less than ten choices! They range from units aimed at print or default

preferences to complex mathematically instigated alternatives. For details on

how each could a ect a design’s ﬂ exibility, visit this site: http://sixrevisions.com/

web_design/a-guide-on-layout-types-in-web-design.

You can choose units of measurement based on compatibility (units aren’t treated equally

online), on a design method (such as responsive design), and even on a hybrid of one or

more techniques. Making the right decision about the mechanism of layouts can play a

critical role in how variables interact with a layout and, more importantly, how a page will

respond when under stress. You want to base such needs primarily on the requirements of

the content and then on the space required for functionality on the web page.

Consideration #3: Dynamic versus static

Dynamic and static layouts also play a part in the construction of sites. Static designs are

those with little to no interaction, are comprised entirely of text or images, and are more

focused on a read-only approach. Dynamic designs, on the other hand, usually include

scripts, changeable content, features, and perhaps some clever code in order to boost the

site’s core  exibility (as shown in Figure 1-10). Both of these design types have advan-

tages and disadvantages, and both a ect a layout’s core stability.

Figure 1-10: You may be able to improve the  exibility of dynamic sites by structuring them around

visitors’ preferences.

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