CSS - :lang

The :lang CSS pseudo-class matches elements based on the language the element is determined to be in. In HTML, the language is determined by a combination of the lang attribute, the <meta> element, and possibly by information from the protocol (such as HTTP headers). For other document types there may be other document methods for determining the language.

Example

 

In this example, the lang selector is used to match on the parent of a quote element using child selectors. Its not meant to demonstrate the only way to do this, or even the correct way (which would depend on the type of document). Note, Unicode values are used to specify special quote characters.

CSS
:lang(en) > q { quotes: '\201C' '\201D' '\2018' '\2019'; }
:lang(fr) > q { quotes: '« ' ' »'; }
:lang(de) > q { quotes: '»' '«' '\2039' '\203A'; }

...where...

HTML
<div lang="en"><q>This English quote has a <q>nested</q> quote.</q></div>
<div lang="fr"><q>This French quote has a <q>nested</q> quote.</q></div>
<div lang="de"><q>This German quote has a <q>nested</q> quote.</q></div>

... looks like ...

Syntax  

CSS
:lang( <language-code> ) <a href="css/value_definition_syntax#curly_braces_(.7b_.7d)" title="Curly braces">{</a> <var>style properties</var> <a href="css/value_definition_syntax#curly_braces_(.7b_.7d)" title="Curly braces">}</a>

Description  

The :lang CSS pseudo-class matches elements based on the language the element is determined to be in. In HTML, the language is determined by a combination of the lang attribute, the <meta> element, and possibly by information from the protocol (such as HTTP headers). For other document types there may be other document methods for determining the language.

Acceptable language-code strings are specified in the HTML 4.0 specification.

Browser Compatibility  

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 1.0 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) 8.0 8.0 3.1
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support 1.0 1.0 (1) 8.0 8.0 3.1

See Also  

Specifications  

Specification Status Comment
Selectors Level 4
The definition of ':lang()' in that specification.
Working Draft No change
Selectors Level 3
The definition of ':lang()' in that specification.
Recommendation No significant change
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of ':lang()' in that specification.
Recommendation 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/:lang

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