Enhancing Responsiveness with Viewport Units: Cross-Browser JavaScript Approaches

The introduction of viewport-percentage length units (vh and vw) in CSS3 has empowered developers with precise control over responsive layouts. However, browsers do not interpret these units natively, posing a challenge for cross-platform compatibility.

JavaScript/jQuery Alternatives

To overcome this limitation, developers have embraced JavaScript and jQuery plugins that translate vh and vw units into pixel values, supporting their use across browsers.

Is vh safe for Sizing Elements?

Along with font sizing, vh and vw units can be safely employed for sizing elements. The example below demonstrates the application of vh units both for height and width:

div {
   height: 6vh;
   width: 20vh;  /* Using vh for both width and height */
}

jQuery Plugin for Dynamic Resizing

The sample jQuery plugin makes use of the window.resize event to update the pixel conversion automatically, ensuring that the layout remains responsive to changes in viewport dimensions. The updated version of this plugin by elclanrs, jquery.columns, extends this functionality to facilitate responsive layouts.

ParseProps Function

The parseProps function is responsible for converting viewport units into pixel values. By iterating through CSS properties, it identifies any values with vh or vw units and performs the conversion. The resulting object with pixel values is then applied to the CSS style through $.fn.css.

Extend Native css Method

The plugin seamlessly integrates with the native css method, allowing developers to use vh and vw units directly in their CSS style declarations. The plugin handles the conversion behind the scenes, providing a convenient and cross-browser solution for viewport-based sizing.

Sample Usage

The following example demonstrates the usage of the plugin:

$('div').css({
  height: '50vh',
  width: '50vw',
  marginTop: '25vh',
  marginLeft: '25vw',
  fontSize: '10vw'
});

By leveraging JavaScript and jQuery plugins, developers can harness the power of viewport units for responsive layouts, ensuring consistent performance across various browsers.