# Read a repository HTML document comfortably on iPhone

Canonical: https://githtml.com/guides/read-repository-html-on-iphone
Published: 2026-09-26
Publisher: WaveTech LLC / gitHtml

Start with a real .html document containing the text you want to read, not a repository page that merely links to it. In gitHtml, choose that indexed file and check its first screen before reading deeply. A mobile viewport, simple document structure, and inline essential styling make the result easier to use.

## Choose the reading artifact

A repository can contain source notes, generated pages, screenshots, and application templates side by side. Choose the artifact whose HTML already contains the complete explanation. A file with an empty root element and several script references is usually an application entry point, not a portable reading document. Open its source before assuming that its filename guarantees useful content.

For a design review, an appropriate artifact might be review.html with the decision, alternatives, and evidence inside its body. Keep the editable source separately if necessary. gitHtml indexes .html files; a Markdown note must be converted by an authoring tool before it becomes this kind of reading artifact.

## Check the first screen

The opening screen should identify the document and explain why it matters. A title, short summary, update date, and a few section links are usually sufficient. A large decorative banner can push the useful material below the fold, while a desktop sidebar may consume the available width. Neither is necessary for a standalone document.

Look at the page in portrait orientation and enlarge the text. If the whole document shrinks to a desktop-sized canvas, ask the author to check the viewport declaration and fixed-width containers. Rotating the phone may be a temporary reading aid, but it should not be the only way to understand ordinary paragraphs.

## Use a short acceptance pass

Before relying on the document during a commute or meeting, inspect its essential parts with optional scripts and remote resources left off. This establishes whether the explanation is actually contained in the file. It does not prove that every external dependency has been saved or that future repository changes will be synchronized automatically.

1. Read the summary and one section near the bottom; confirm both contain meaningful text.
2. Follow a same-document section link, then inspect a code sample and any decision table.
3. Check whether a missing picture removes important information; request a text explanation if it does.
4. Record the document date or revision when sharing feedback so the author can identify the version you read.

## Sources and further reading

- [MDN: viewport metadata](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/meta/name/viewport)

## Related guides

- [Add useful section navigation to a long HTML document](https://githtml.com/guides/table-of-contents-for-long-html)
- [Format code samples for reading on an iPhone](https://githtml.com/guides/code-blocks-for-iphone-reading)
- [Make a comparison table usable on a small screen](https://githtml.com/guides/comparison-tables-small-screens)
- [Include diagrams without a runtime rendering dependency](https://githtml.com/guides/static-diagrams-in-html-reports)

Editorial approach: https://githtml.com/guides/about