A common use of responsive design in web development is to ensure websites provide an optimal viewing experience across different devices and screen sizes. This design approach allows web pages to adapt fluidly, rearranging content, resizing images, and modifying navigation based on the user's device. By implementing responsive design, developers can create websites that are accessible and user-friendly on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. This improves user engagement and search engine ranking, as usability is a critical factor in modern web design.