This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.
The :dir()
CSS pseudo-class matches elements based on the directionality of the text contained in them.
/* Selects any element with right-to-left text */ :dir(rtl) { background-color: red; }
The :dir()
pseudo-class uses only the semantic value of the directionality, i.e., the one defined in the document itself. It doesn't account for styling directionality, i.e., the directionality set by CSS properties such as direction
.
Note: Be aware that the behavior of the :dir()
pseudo-class is not equivalent to the [dir=…]
attribute selectors. The latter match the HTML dir
attribute, and ignore elements that lack it — even if they inherit a direction from their parent. (Similarly, [dir=rtl]
and [dir=ltr]
won't match the auto
value.) In contrast, :dir()
will match the value calculated by the user agent, even if inherited.
Note: In HTML, the direction is determined by the dir
attribute. Other document types may have different methods.
Syntax
The :dir()
pseudo-class requires one parameter, representing the text directionality you want to target.
Parameters
ltr
- Target left-to-right elements.
rtl
- Target right-to-left elements.
Formal syntax
:dir( ltr | rtl )
Example
HTML
<div dir="rtl"> <span>test1</span> <div dir="ltr">test2 <div dir="auto">עִבְרִית</div> </div> </div>
CSS
:dir(ltr) { background-color: yellow; } :dir(rtl) { background-color: powderblue; }
Result
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
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. |
Browser compatibility
Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Edge | Opera | Safari |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | No support[1] | 17 (17) -moz 49 (49)[2] |
No support | No support[3] | No support[1] | No support[4] |
Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Mobile | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | No support[1] | 17.0 (17) -moz 49.0 (49)[2] |
No support | No support | No support[4] |
[1] This feature is not implemented yet. See Chromium bug 576815.
[2] Because the standardized property is implemented since Gecko 49.0 (Firefox 49.0 / Thunderbird 49.0 / SeaMonkey 2.46), the -moz prefixed variant was removed in Gecko 53.0 (Firefox 53.0 / Thunderbird 53.0 / SeaMonkey 2.50).
[3] Microsoft Edge feature request on UserVoice.
[4] This feature is not implemented yet. See WebKit bug 64861.