Media Types in CSS

The Media Type in a media query specifies the category of device for which the styles should apply. The commonly used media types are:

1. screen:

   • Refers to devices with screens, such as desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

   • Used for applying styles that are specifically designed for on-screen viewing.

2. print:

   • Refers to styles applied when the document is being printed.

   • Helps optimize the appearance of web pages for paper printing by hiding elements like navigation or adjusting fonts and layout.

3. all:

   • Applies styles to all devices, both screen and print.

   • Useful for defining fallback styles that apply universally.

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Detailed Explanation with Examples

1. screen Media Type

This media type is commonly used for responsive web design to adjust styles for devices with screens.

Example:

/* Default styles for all devices */
body {
    font-size: 16px;
    background-color: lightgray;
}

/* Styles specifically for screens with a maximum width of 768px (tablets and smaller screens) */
@media screen and (max-width: 768px) {
    body {
        font-size: 14px;
        background-color: white;
    }
}

Explanation:

• The default style applies to all devices.

• When the device has a screen and its width is less than or equal to 768px, the background color changes to white, and the font size becomes smaller.

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2. print Media Type

This media type is used to prepare a webpage for printing, such as hiding unnecessary elements or changing colors to grayscale.

Example:

/* Default styles */
body {
    font-size: 16px;
    background-color: white;
    color: black;
}

nav, footer {
    display: block;
}

/* Styles for print */
@media print {
    body {
        font-size: 12px;
        color: black;
        background-color: none;
    }
    nav, footer {
        display: none; /* Hide navigation and footer in print */
    }
}

Explanation:

• The default style is for on-screen viewing.

• When printing, the @media print block ensures unnecessary elements like the navigation bar and footer are hidden, and colors are adjusted for readability.

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3. all Media Type

This media type is used when styles are meant for both screen and print.

Example:

/* Fallback styles for all media types */
@media all {
    body {
        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
        margin: 0;
    }
}

Explanation:

• The all media type ensures a consistent font family and removes margins across all devices and outputs, whether viewed on-screen or printed.

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Use Cases for Media Types

• screen: Creating responsive designs for mobile, tablet, and desktop.

• print: Optimizing pages for printing, such as generating PDF-friendly versions.

• all: Providing baseline styles that work universally across all media types.