Responsive themes follow the responsive web design approach which aims to create websites that offer optimal user experience across various devices and screen resolutions including desktop computers, tablets such as iPad, smartphones and other mobile devices. A responsive WordPress theme smoothly adjusts its layout based on the screen size and resolution.
Responsive themes offer better readability and usability on smaller screens such as smart phones. It also prevents you from creating a device specific mobile version. Before responsive themes, sites would have to create a different mobile version for each platform such as iPhone, Android, etc. Responsive design allows a single site to be viewed on various devices without the need for additional themes or plugins.
A growing number of people are accessing internet through tablets and smartphones. This is why we are seeing an increase in the number of responsive themes that are being created by WordPress theme companies. If a large proportion of your website visitors are visiting your website using a mobile device, then you should seriously consider offering a mobile version or switching to a responsive WordPress theme.
There is a theme in WordPress repository that is called “Responsive” however that is not the only responsive theme that is available. So don’t get confused. There are tons of responsive themes available.
This post was originally published in the wpbeginner glossary.
