Question

My manager keeps mentioning fixed width page layouts. I don’t know what he means and don’t really want to ask. He came over to my desk and resized my browser width-ways and mumbled something. What I’d like to ask is this.

1. What is a fixed width page layout?
2. What is the alternative?
3. Why does it matter?

Thanks,

Sachin

Answer 1

Fixed width refers to a document styled with a width that is fixed by an absolute unit.

px are an example of an absolute unit.

width: 100px;

One alternative is to make your widths relative such as a %.

width: 60%;

The reason this matters is because different people will have different screen sizes or use their browser in different ways.

Using fixed width means that users on smaller screens, or using their browser minimised, with have to scroll horizontally rather than the page width adjusting depending on size of their browser window.