writing-mode

The writing-mode CSS property sets whether lines of text are laid out horizontally or vertically, as well as the direction in which blocks progress. When set for an entire document, it should be set on the root element (html element for HTML documents).

This property specifies the block flow direction, which is the direction in which block-level containers are stacked, and the direction in which inline-level content flows within a block container. Thus, it also determines the ordering of block-level content.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
writing-mode: horizontal-tb;
writing-mode: vertical-rl;
writing-mode: vertical-lr;

/* Global values */
writing-mode: inherit;
writing-mode: initial;
writing-mode: unset;

The writing-mode property is specified as one of the values listed below. The flow direction in horizontal scripts is also affected by the directionality of that script, either left-to-right (ltr, like English and most other languages) or right-to-left (rtl, like Hebrew or Arabic).

Values

horizontal-tb
For ltr scripts, content flows horizontally from left to right. For rtl scripts, content flows horizontally from right to left. The next horizontal line is positioned below the previous line.
vertical-rl
For ltr scripts, content flows vertically from top to bottom, and the next vertical line is positioned to the left of the previous line. For rtl scripts, content flows vertically from bottom to top, and the next vertical line is positioned to the right of the previous line.
vertical-lr
For ltr scripts, content flows vertically from top to bottom, and the next vertical line is positioned to the right of the previous line. For rtl scripts, content flows vertically from bottom to top, and the next vertical line is positioned to the left of the previous line.
sideways-rl
For ltr scripts, content flows vertically from bottom to top. For rtl scripts, content flows vertically from top to bottom. All the glyphs, even those in vertical scripts, are set sideways toward the right.
sideways-lr
For ltr scripts, content flows vertically from top to bottom. For rtl scripts, content flows vertically from bottom to top. All the glyphs, even those in vertical scripts, are set sideways toward the left.
lr
Deprecated except for SVG1 documents. For CSS, use horizontal-tb instead.
lr-tb
Deprecated except for SVG1 documents. For CSS, use horizontal-tb instead.
rl
Deprecated except for SVG1 documents. For CSS, use horizontal-tb instead.
tb
Deprecated except for SVG1 documents. For CSS, use vertical-lr instead.
tb-lr
Deprecated except for SVG1 documents. For CSS, use vertical-lr instead.
tb-rl
Deprecated except for SVG1 documents. For CSS, use vertical-rl instead.

Formal definition

Initial valuehorizontal-tb
Applies toall elements except table row groups, table column groups, table rows, and table columns
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

horizontal-tb | vertical-rl | vertical-lr | sideways-rl | sideways-lr

Examples

Using multiple writing modes

This example demonstrates all of the writing modes, showing each with text in various languages.

HTML

The HTML is a <table> with each writing mode in a row with a column showing text in various scripts using that writing mode.

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Value</th>
    <th>Vertical script</th>
    <th>Horizontal (LTR) script</th>
    <th>Horizontal (RTL) script</th>
    <th>Mixed script</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>horizontal-tb</td>
    <td class="example Text1"><span>ๆˆ‘ๅฎถๆฒกๆœ‰็”ต่„‘ใ€‚</span></td>
    <td class="example Text1"><span>Example text</span></td>
    <td class="example Text1"><span>ืžืœืœ ืืจื•ืš ืœื“ื•ื’ืžื</span></td>
    <td class="example Text1"><span>1994ๅนดใซ่‡ณใฃใฆใฏ</span></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>vertical-lr</td>
    <td class="example Text2"><span>ๆˆ‘ๅฎถๆฒกๆœ‰็”ต่„‘ใ€‚</span></td>
    <td class="example Text2"><span>Example text</span></td>
    <td class="example Text2"><span>ืžืœืœ ืืจื•ืš ืœื“ื•ื’ืžื</span></td>
    <td class="example Text2"><span>1994ๅนดใซ่‡ณใฃใฆใฏ</span></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>vertical-rl</td>
    <td class="example Text3"><span>ๆˆ‘ๅฎถๆฒกๆœ‰็”ต่„‘ใ€‚</span></td>
    <td class="example Text3"><span>Example text</span></td>
    <td class="example Text3"><span>ืžืœืœ ืืจื•ืš ืœื“ื•ื’ืžื</span></td>
    <td class="example Text3"><span>1994ๅนดใซ่‡ณใฃใฆใฏ</span></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>sideways-lr</td>
    <td class="example Text4"><span>ๆˆ‘ๅฎถๆฒกๆœ‰็”ต่„‘ใ€‚</span></td>
    <td class="example Text4"><span>Example text</span></td>
    <td class="example Text4"><span>ืžืœืœ ืืจื•ืš ืœื“ื•ื’ืžื</span></td>
    <td class="example Text4"><span>1994ๅนดใซ่‡ณใฃใฆใฏ</span></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>sideways-rl</td>
    <td class="example Text5"><span>ๆˆ‘ๅฎถๆฒกๆœ‰็”ต่„‘ใ€‚</span></td>
    <td class="example Text5"><span>Example text</span></td>
    <td class="example Text5"><span>ืžืœืœ ืืจื•ืš ืœื“ื•ื’ืžื</span></td>
    <td class="example Text5"><span>1994ๅนดใซ่‡ณใฃใฆใฏ</span></td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS

The CSS that adjusts the directionality of the content looks like this:

.example.Text1 span, .example.Text1 {
  writing-mode: horizontal-tb;
  -webkit-writing-mode: horizontal-tb;
  -ms-writing-mode: horizontal-tb;
}

.example.Text2 span, .example.Text2 {
  writing-mode: vertical-lr;
  -webkit-writing-mode: vertical-lr;
  -ms-writing-mode: vertical-lr;
}

.example.Text3 span, .example.Text3 {
  writing-mode: vertical-rl;
  -webkit-writing-mode: vertical-rl;
  -ms-writing-mode: vertical-rl;
}

.example.Text4 span, .example.Text4 {
  writing-mode: sideways-lr;
  -webkit-writing-mode: sideways-lr;
  -ms-writing-mode: sideways-lr;
}

.example.Text5 span, .example.Text5 {
  writing-mode: sideways-rl;
  -webkit-writing-mode: sideways-rl;
  -ms-writing-mode: sideways-rl;
}

Result

This image shows what the output should look like, in case your browser's support for writing-mode is incomplete:

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Writing Modes Level 4
The definition of 'writing-mode' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Add sideways-lr and sideways-rl
CSS Writing Modes Module Level 3
The definition of 'writing-mode' in that specification.
Proposed Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
writing-modeChrome Full support 48
Full support 48
Full support 8
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 12
Full support 12
Full support 12
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Full support 41
Notes
Full support 41
Notes
Notes Firefox 42 added support for bidirectional and RTL scripts in vertical modes.
No support 36 — 51
Disabled
Disabled From version 36 until version 51 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.vertical-text.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE Full support 9
Prefixed Notes
Full support 9
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -ms-
Notes Internet Explorer's implementation differs from the specification.
Opera Full support 35
Full support 35
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari Full support 10.1
Full support 10.1
Full support 5.1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android Full support 48
Full support 48
Full support 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 48
Full support 48
Full support 18
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Android Full support 41
Notes
Full support 41
Notes
Notes Firefox 42 added support for bidirectional and RTL scripts in vertical modes.
No support 36 — 51
Disabled
Disabled From version 36 until version 51 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.vertical-text.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 35
Full support 35
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari iOS Full support 10.3
Full support 10.3
Full support 5.1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
Full support 5.0
Full support 1.0
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
horizontal-tb, vertical-lr, and vertical-rlChrome Full support 48Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 43IE No support NoOpera Full support 35Safari Full support 9WebView Android Full support 48Chrome Android Full support 48Firefox Android Full support 43Opera Android Full support 35Safari iOS Full support 9Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
sideways-lr and sideways-rlChrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox Full support 43IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 43Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
lr, lr-tb, rl, rl-tb, tb, and tb-rl
Deprecated
Chrome Full support 48Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 43IE Full support 9
Prefixed
Full support 9
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -ms-
Opera Full support 35Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 48Chrome Android Full support 48Firefox Android Full support 43Opera Android Full support 35Safari iOS Full support 10.3Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also