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React.js

Get Viewport/Window Height in ReactJS

By Filip on 05/06/2024

Learn how to get the viewport or window height dynamically in your ReactJS application for responsive design and optimized user experience.

Get Viewport/Window Height in ReactJS

Table of Contents

Introduction

In today's digital age, having a website for your bakery is essential to reach a wider audience and showcase your delicious creations. However, it's not enough to simply have a website; it needs to be accessible and visually appealing on all devices, from desktops to smartphones. This is where responsive design comes in. This article will guide you through the process of making your bakery website responsive using React, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. We'll explore the challenges of varying screen sizes and resolutions, and how to overcome them using React's features and responsive design techniques. Get ready to create a bakery website that looks as delightful as your pastries, no matter the device it's viewed on!

Step-by-Step Guide

Here's how to ensure your bakery website looks delicious on all devices using React:

1. Understanding the Problem:

  • Different devices have different screen sizes and resolutions.
  • A website layout that looks good on a laptop might not translate well to a mobile phone.
  • Images might appear too small or large, text might be hard to read, and the overall user experience can suffer.

2. Getting Viewport Dimensions:

  • We need to know the current viewport (visible area of the webpage) size to adjust the layout accordingly.
  • React provides access to the browser's window object.
  • Use window.innerHeight and window.innerWidth to get the viewport's height and width, respectively.
function MyComponent() {
  const viewportHeight = window.innerHeight;
  const viewportWidth = window.innerWidth;

  // ... use viewportHeight and viewportWidth for styling ...
}

3. Responding to Viewport Changes:

  • Viewport size can change when users rotate their devices or resize their browser windows.
  • We need to update the layout dynamically when these changes occur.
  • React's useEffect hook is perfect for this:
function MyComponent() {
  const [viewportWidth, setViewportWidth] = useState(window.innerWidth);

  useEffect(() => {
    const handleResize = () => setViewportWidth(window.innerWidth);
    window.addEventListener('resize', handleResize);
    return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', handleResize);
  }, []);

  // ... use viewportWidth for styling ...
}

4. Implementing Responsive Techniques:

  • CSS Media Queries: Define different styles for different screen sizes.
/* For screens smaller than 768px (typical tablet size) */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .cupcake-image {
    width: 50%;
  }
}
  • Flexbox or Grid Layout: Create flexible layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.
  • Relative Units: Use units like percentages or viewport units (vw, vh) for sizing elements.
  • Conditional Rendering: Show or hide elements based on screen size.
function MyComponent() {
  // ...

  return (
    <div>
      {viewportWidth > 768 && <LargeImage />}
      {viewportWidth <= 768 && <SmallImage />}
    </div>
  );
}

5. Testing on Different Devices:

  • Use browser developer tools to simulate different screen sizes.
  • Test your website on actual mobile devices and tablets to ensure a smooth user experience.

Remember:

  • Responsive design is an ongoing process.
  • Continuously test and refine your website's layout to ensure it looks great and functions well on all devices.
  • By following these steps, you can ensure your bakery website is a treat for everyone, regardless of their screen size!

Code Example

This React component displays a bakery item with responsive image sizing. It tracks the viewport width and adjusts the image size class based on whether the screen is wider than 768 pixels, assumed to be the tablet breakpoint. This allows for different image presentations on larger and smaller screens. Styling with CSS and potential use of Flexbox or Grid Layout are mentioned for further layout customization.

This example demonstrates a simple React component showcasing responsive techniques mentioned in the article:

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

function BakeryItem(props) {
  const { name, description, imageUrl } = props;
  const [viewportWidth, setViewportWidth] = useState(window.innerWidth);

  useEffect(() => {
    const handleResize = () => setViewportWidth(window.innerWidth);
    window.addEventListener('resize', handleResize);
    return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', handleResize);
  }, []);

  // Conditionally render image size based on viewport width
  const imageSize = viewportWidth > 768 ? 'large' : 'small';

  return (
    <div className="bakery-item">
      <img src={imageUrl} alt={name} className={`bakery-image ${imageSize}`} />
      <h2>{name}</h2>
      <p>{description}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

export default BakeryItem;

Explanation:

  1. Import Necessary Modules: We import useState and useEffect from React to manage state and side effects.

  2. Component Definition: We define a functional component BakeryItem that takes name, description, and imageUrl as props.

  3. Viewport State: We use useState to keep track of the current viewport width, initializing it with the initial window width.

  4. useEffect for Resize Handling: We use useEffect to add an event listener for window resize events. When the viewport size changes, the handleResize function updates the viewportWidth state. The cleanup function removes the event listener when the component unmounts.

  5. Conditional Image Size: We define a variable imageSize that depends on the viewportWidth. If the width is greater than 768px (assumed tablet breakpoint), we use the "large" image size class; otherwise, we use the "small" class.

  6. Rendering: We render the bakery item with an image, name, and description. The image's class dynamically changes based on the imageSize variable, allowing for different styling based on screen size.

Additional Considerations:

  • CSS Styling: You would need to define CSS classes for .bakery-item, .bakery-image, .large, and .small to style the elements appropriately for different screen sizes. Consider using media queries for more complex styling rules.
  • Flexbox or Grid Layout: For more complex layouts with multiple bakery items, consider using Flexbox or Grid Layout to create a responsive grid that adapts to different screen sizes.
  • Relative Units: Use relative units like percentages or viewport units (vw, vh) for sizing elements to ensure they scale proportionally with the screen size.

Remember to test your website on different devices and screen sizes to ensure a seamless user experience for all your bakery customers!

Additional Notes

Beyond the Basics:

  • Responsive Images: Consider using the <picture> element and the srcset and sizes attributes to provide different image sources for different screen sizes and resolutions. This ensures optimal image loading and display.
  • Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading for images and other content that are not immediately visible in the viewport. This improves initial page load performance, especially on mobile devices with limited bandwidth.
  • Touch Interactions: Optimize your website for touch interactions on mobile devices. Ensure buttons and links have sufficient touch target sizes and consider using touch-friendly gestures for navigation or image galleries.
  • Performance Optimization: Pay attention to performance optimization techniques such as code splitting, minimizing bundle size, and using efficient rendering methods. A fast-loading website is crucial for a good user experience, especially on mobile devices.

Advanced Techniques:

  • CSS Grid: Explore the power of CSS Grid for creating complex and flexible layouts that adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes.
  • CSS-in-JS Libraries: Consider using CSS-in-JS libraries like styled-components or emotion for more dynamic and maintainable styling solutions.
  • React Responsive Libraries: Explore libraries like react-responsive or react-device-detect to simplify responsive design implementation and handle device-specific logic.

Accessibility:

  • Semantic HTML: Use semantic HTML elements to ensure your website is accessible to users with disabilities and assistive technologies.
  • ARIA Attributes: Utilize ARIA attributes to provide additional information and context for screen readers and other assistive devices.
  • Keyboard Navigation: Ensure your website is navigable using only the keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse.

Testing and Debugging:

  • Responsive Design Testing Tools: Use online tools or browser extensions to test your website's responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes.
  • React Developer Tools: Leverage the React Developer Tools to inspect component structure, state, and props, and debug any layout or rendering issues.

Continuous Improvement:

  • User Feedback: Gather feedback from users on different devices to identify areas for improvement in your website's responsiveness and usability.
  • Analytics: Monitor website analytics to understand how users interact with your website on different devices and optimize accordingly.
  • Stay Updated: Keep up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in responsive design and React development to ensure your bakery website remains modern and user-friendly.

Summary

Step Description Techniques
1. Understanding the Problem - Different devices have varying screen sizes and resolutions, impacting website layout. - Poor user experience on certain devices due to improper image scaling, text readability, and overall layout. N/A
2. Getting Viewport Dimensions - Determine the visible area of the webpage using window.innerHeight and window.innerWidth. - Access viewport dimensions within React components. JavaScript: window object
3. Responding to Viewport Changes - Dynamically update layout when viewport size changes (device rotation, browser resizing). - Utilize useEffect hook to handle resize events. React: useEffect hook, useState hook
4. Implementing Responsive Techniques - Adapt layout and styling based on screen size. - CSS Media Queries - Flexbox or Grid Layout - Relative Units (%, vw, vh) - Conditional Rendering
5. Testing on Different Devices - Ensure optimal user experience across various devices. - Browser developer tools (screen size simulation) - Testing on actual mobile devices and tablets

Conclusion

By embracing responsive design principles and leveraging the power of React, you can create a bakery website that caters to a diverse audience across all devices. Remember, responsive design is an ongoing journey, not a one-time task. Continuously test, refine, and adapt your website to ensure it remains visually appealing, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone. With dedication and the right tools, your bakery website will become a delightful online destination that showcases your delectable creations and leaves a lasting impression on every visitor.

References

Imagine you're building a website for a bakery. You have all the recipes, photos, and content you need. But, you face a challenge: your website looks great on a laptop, but on a mobile phone, your bakery's delicious cupcakes shrink into unappetizing, tiny blobs. That's where responsive design

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