Which CSS feature allows for responsive design across different screen sizes?

Media queries are a crucial CSS feature for implementing responsive design across varying screen sizes. They allow developers to apply specific styles based on the characteristics of the device displaying the webpage, such as its width, height, resolution, and orientation. By defining breakpoints within the CSS using media queries, designers can adjust layouts, font sizes, colors, and other style attributes, ensuring that a website is visually appealing and functional on devices ranging from mobile phones to large desktop monitors.

For example, a media query can be used to change the number of columns in a layout or switch from a single-column view to a multi-column view when the screen width meets certain criteria. This adaptability improves user experience, as it allows websites to be more usable and visually consistent across different devices, enhancing accessibility for a broad audience.

Other options do not provide the same level of flexibility for catering to different screen sizes. Absolute positioning is more about placing elements in a fixed location relative to their nearest positioned ancestor, which does not inherently support responsive changes. Inline styles apply only to individual elements and don't allow for conditional styling based on screen size. Floating elements can help with layout design but don't inherently provide the ability to adapt to various screen sizes in the way media queries do.