Which statement best describes the role of HTML and CSS in responsive design?

• A. Use Flash to control the appearance and capture browser information.
• B. Use JavaScript to set all CSS style and control interactivity.
• C. Use CSS to organize the information and HTML to control the appearance of the site.
• D. Use HTML to format the web site and CSS to control the appearance of the site.

Answer: (D)

In responsive design, the structure and meaning of the content come from HTML, while the visual presentation and layout come from CSS. HTML defines what the page is about—its headings, paragraphs, lists, and other elements—whereas CSS styles those elements and controls how they appear on different screen sizes, including font sizes, spacing, colors, and how the layout adapts with media queries and flexible grids. The statement that best describes this division is that HTML formats the site and CSS controls its appearance. The other options rely on outdated technology or reverse the roles of HTML and CSS, which isn’t how responsive design is typically implemented.