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 )
Examples
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
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
:dir() | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox
Full support
49
| IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android
Full support
49
| Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
- Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.