/responsive-patterns

name: responsive-patterns
license: MIT
compatibility: "Claude Code 2.1.277+."
description: Responsive design with Container Queries, fluid typography, cqi/cqb units, subgrid, intrinsic layouts, foldable devices, and mobile-first patterns for React applications. Use when building responsive layouts or container queries.
user-invocable: false
metadata:
  owner-agent: "frontend-ui-developer"
  category: document-asset-creation
  version: "1.1.0"
  author: "OrchestKit"
  complexity: "medium"
  tags: "responsive, container-queries, fluid-typography, mobile-first, css-grid, clamp, cqi, breakpoints, pwa, service-worker, workbox, offline-first, animation, motion, framer-motion, scroll-driven, view-transitions, subgrid, intrinsic-layout, foldable, dual-screen, safe-area"
allowed-tools: "Read Glob Grep WebFetch WebSearch"

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

> Load `Read("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("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("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("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