Member Avatar for <M/>

I want to turn my sites (i have a few small test sites that i use to show what I learn) into a mobile site. How do I create a custom mobile site for the mobile devices and have a different site for the typical computer. I search my question on Google, i keep getting web services. Anyone have an idea on how to do this?

I noticed some sites have an "m" on their url. like m.site.com or m.www.site.com (i think it was CNN that had that one).

Tell me if i am still unclear, i am typing this at 2 AM so whatever i am thinking is not always going to come out right.

  • 5 Contributors
  • 4 Replies
  • 210 Views
  • 2 Weeks Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by mlm2gether

Dani AI

Generated

As raised, there are three practical ways to make a site “mobile”: a single responsive codebase, dynamic/adaptive serving (same URL, different markup depending on device), or a separate mobile site on its own host or subdomain. ’s point about responsive design is the simplest long-term when content and flows stay the same. When the mobile experience needs very different content or performance constraints are tight, the separate-site route that and mentioned can be appropriate—but it adds work around routing, shared assets, and search signals.

A short, actionable checklist:

  • Audit pages and decide content parity: identical, reduced, or different features.
  • Pick an architecture: responsive for parity; separate site for different UX; dynamic serving when same URL must deliver tuned HTML.
  • Implement fundamentals: device viewport, fluid layout and typography, responsive images, touch-friendly controls, and progressive enhancement.
  • Server and SEO hygiene for separate/dynamic setups: preserve redirects, set the Vary header when serving by UA, and link desktop/mobile variants with rel="alternate" and rel="canonical" to avoid duplicate-content issues.
  • Performance first: defer nonessential JS, compress and serve properly scaled images, and use caching/CDN for shared assets.
  • Test on real devices and with throttled connections; verify layout, tap targets, and load times.

A minimum technical snippet to include for any responsive approach:

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1">

For WordPress (as noted), prefer a maintained responsive theme or a reputable plugin that does not create duplicate URLs or stale content. When space is limited, prototype one or two high-traffic pages first—measure user flows and load metrics—then apply the chosen pattern site-wide.

Recommended Answers

All 4 Replies

Member Avatar for pritaeas

The m. is just a subdomain pointing to a different folder. This makes it easy to use a different template for mobile devices.

Member Avatar for peter_budo

In most cases server is run on Apache Httpd server, but there must similar stuff on IIS for Microsoft too. In Apache server you will have to setup/configure your subdomains example. As pritaes mention m or mobile or any other designation is just different folder/directory that is used, and it is server resposibility to direct request to correct one.

Member Avatar for Member #120589

There is a movement towards RWD (Responsive Web Design), as opposed to creating separate sites. One aspect of which is to provide 'breakpoints' with media queries. This helps in producing many views, based on screen size - that's a simplification though. SO from the same underlying logic, you get typical smartphone, tablet and desktop views. A good example of this is 'Twitter Bootstrap', which in part, utilises a grid system to resize content units. Maybe something to ponder if the content is to be basically the same. That is not to say that mobile-specific sites should not be developed. Some sites designed for the desktop simply don't port well at all.

Member Avatar for mlm2gether

If you are still interested in this topic there is a WordPress plugin. called ezymobilesitegenerator you can get on Warrior Forum that will allow you to present a site for mobile that has for example just three or four pages accessed by tapping buttons About Us, Contact and Map with ability to set a route to your business. There are also html5 templates on codecanyon.com. You can include a discount coupon/code and "Tap To Call" button. I develop such sites then upload to a domain then install a script that presents the mobile site to devices with screens less than desktop and laptop size (tablets, notebooks and phones). You can also develop apps and in WordPress there is a plugin where you offer mobile users the option to download your App.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.