CSS Breakpoints

1. What Are Breakpoints?

A breakpoint is a width threshold where you apply new CSS rules. Common device categories:

• Mobile: 0 – 639px
• Tablet: 640px – 1023px
• Laptop: 1024px – 1279px
• Desktop: 1280px and up

2. Media Query Syntax

/* Target devices 768px and wider */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
    .container {
        display: flex;
    }
}

/* Max-width example for phones */
@media (max-width: 640px) {
    .nav {
        flex-direction: column;
    }
}
            

3. Common Breakpoint Values

• 320px – Small phones
• 480px – Larger phones
• 768px – Tablets
• 1024px – Small laptops
• 1280px – Desktops
• 1536px+ – Large screens

4. Mobile-First vs Desktop-First

A mobile-first approach starts with styles for the smallest screens and adds styles as the screen gets wider using min-width. This is recommended.

/* Mobile styles first */
.card {
    font-size: 14px;
}

/* Desktop override */
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
    .card {
        font-size: 18px;
    }
}
            

5. Tips for Managing Breakpoints

• Keep breakpoints consistent across your project
• Use DevTools' responsive mode to test live
• Don’t overuse breakpoints — use fluid layouts when possible
• Consider CSS frameworks (like Tailwind or Bootstrap) for predefined breakpoints

Conclusion

CSS breakpoints are essential for responsive design. Start with a mobile-first mindset, apply media queries logically, and test across screen sizes to ensure your site looks great everywhere.