Types of Layouts

We can group web-page layouts into three categories based on how their width is set: fixed-width, liquid (or fluid), and elastic. It’s also possible to combine these layouts into hybrid layouts by mixing units of measurements; each column of the design can use a different unit. In any of these four types of layouts, any number of columns or aesthetic themes is possible; the type simply establishes how the browsing device determines how wide to make the layout appear to the user.

Fixed-width: Rigid Pixels

Fixed-width layouts are the designs you’re most used to seeing—and probably making, since you’re reading this book to learn the alternatives. The width of the overall layout of a fixed-width design is set to a value in pixels that’s decided by the designer. Usually, the designer chooses a width based on one of the common screen resolutions, such as 800 by 600 or 1024 by 768.