CSS - :dir()
The :dir
CSS pseudo-class matches elements based on the directionality of the text contained in it. In HTML, the direction is determined by the dir
attribute. For other document types there may be other document methods for determining the language.
Example
<div dir="rtl"> <span>test1</span> <div dir="ltr">test2 <div dir="auto">עִבְרִית</div> </div> </div>
In this example :dir(rtl)
will match the top level div, span containing test1
, and the div with the hebrew characters. :dir(ltr)
will match the div containing test2.
Syntax
:dir( ltr <a href="css/value_definition_syntax#single_bar" title="Single bar">|</a> rtl ) { <var>style properties</var> }
Description
The :dir
CSS pseudo-class matches elements based on the directionality of the text contained in it. In HTML, the direction is determined by the dir
attribute. For other document types there may be other document methods for determining the language.
Note that the usage of the pseudo-class :dir()
is not equivalent of using the [dir=…]
attribute selectors. The latter matches a value of the dir
and doesn't match when no attribute is set, even if in that case the element inherits the value of its parent; similarly [dir=rtl]
or [dir=ltr]
won't match the auto
value that can be used on the dir
attribute. In the opposite, :dir()
will match the value calculated by the UA, being inherited or the auto
value.
Also :dir()
considers only the semantic value of the directionality, the one defined in the document, most of the time in HTML. It won't consider styling directionality, the one set by CSS properties like direction
which are purely stylistic.
Browser Compatibility
Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Edge | Opera | Safari |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | No support [3] | 17 (17) -moz 49 (49) |
No support | No support [1] | No support | No support [2] |
Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Mobile | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | No support [3] | 17.0 (17) -moz 49.0 (49) |
No support | No support | No support [2] |
[1]: Microsoft Edge feature request on UserVoice
[2]: WebKit bug #64861
[3]: Chrome issue #576815
See Also
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
WHATWG HTML Living Standard The definition of ':dir(ltr)' in that specification. |
Living Standard | No changes. |
Selectors Level 4 The definition of ':dir()' in that specification. |
Working Draft | Initial definition |
License
© 2016 Mozilla Contributors
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-us/docs/web/css/:dir