Bootstrap Get Started
14 April 2025 | Category: Bootstrap
Bootstrap Tutorial: Build a Simple Responsive Webpage
In this Bootstrap tutorial, you’ll learn how to use Bootstrap to create a basic webpage with a navigation bar and a button. Bootstrap is a free framework for building responsive, mobile-friendly websites easily.
What You’ll Learn
- Adding Bootstrap to your project
- Creating a responsive navigation bar
- Styling a button with Bootstrap classes
- Checking responsiveness on different screens
Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of HTML
- A text editor (e.g., VS Code, Notepad)
- A web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox)
Step 1: Add Bootstrap CSS
To use Bootstrap, you need its CSS and JavaScript. For this tutorial, assume Bootstrap is included in your project using a CDN (we’ll only show the content code, not the <link>
or <script>
tags as requested).
Start with a navigation bar.
Step 2: Create a Navigation Bar
Add a responsive navigation bar using Bootstrap’s navbar
classes. Use this code:
<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg bg-primary">
<div class="container-fluid">
<a class="navbar-brand" href="#">My Page</a>
<button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navMenu">
<span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
</button>
<div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navMenu">
<ul class="navbar-nav">
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link active" href="#">Home</a>
</li>
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link" href="#">About</a>
</li>
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link" href="#">Contact</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</nav>
Explanation:
navbar-expand-lg
: Makes the navbar horizontal on large screens.bg-primary
: Sets a blue background.navbar-toggler
: Adds a menu button for mobile devices.nav-link
: Styles the menu items.
Place this in your HTML file (we’re skipping the outer tags as requested). When viewed in a browser, you’ll see a blue navbar with links.
Step 3: Add Content and a Button
Below the navbar, add a heading, text, and a button. Use this code:
<div class="container mt-3">
<h1>Welcome!</h1>
<p>Create websites with Bootstrap.</p>
<button class="btn btn-success">Click Here</button>
</div>
Explanation:
container
: Centers and constrains the content.mt-3
: Adds margin-top for spacing.btn btn-success
: Creates a green button.
This adds a centered section with a heading, paragraph, and button.
Step 4: Test Responsiveness
Bootstrap ensures your page works on all devices. Try these:
- Resize your browser to a smaller size.
- Click the navbar’s menu icon to see the mobile menu.
- Check the page on a phone (if testing locally).
The navbar should collapse into a menu icon, and the content should adjust smoothly.
Step 5: Customize the Button
Let’s tweak the button. Replace the button line with:
<button class="btn btn-outline-success btn-lg">Click Here</button>
Explanation:
btn-outline-success
: Uses a green outline style.btn-lg
: Makes the button larger.
This updates the button to a bigger, outlined version.
Final Code
Here’s the complete content code (tags like div
, nav
, etc., only):
<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg bg-primary">
<div class="container-fluid">
<a class="navbar-brand" href="#">My Page</a>
<button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navMenu">
<span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
</button>
<div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navMenu">
<ul class="navbar-nav">
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link active" href="#">Home</a>
</li>
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link" href="#">About</a>
</li>
<li class="nav-item">
<a class="nav-link" href="#">Contact</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</nav>
<div class="container mt-3">
<h1>Welcome!</h1>
<p>Create websites with Bootstrap.</p>
<button class="btn btn-outline-success btn-lg">Click Here</button>
</div>
Output
Your webpage should show:
- A blue navigation bar with “My Page” and three links.
- A centered heading, paragraph, and a large green outline button.
- On mobile, the navbar collapses into a menu icon.
Next Steps
- Explore Bootstrap’s official docs for components like forms or images.
- Try changing
bg-primary
tobg-dark
orbg-info
for new navbar colors. - Add more elements, like a
div
with a Bootstrap card.
Conclusion
You’ve built a responsive webpage using Bootstrap! With minimal code, you created a modern layout. Keep experimenting to master Bootstrap’s features.
Happy coding!