:dir()
The :dir() CSS pseudo-class matches elements based on the directionality of the text contained in them.
css
/* 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.
Browser support
| Feature | Desktop | Mobile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Chrome Android | Safari iOS | |
| 120 | 120 | 49 | 16.4 | 120 | 16.4 | |
- This feature was removed in a later browser version (53)
- Available with a vendor prefix: -moz- (17)
Syntax
:dir(rtl) {
text-align: right;
}
:dir(ltr) {
text-align: left;
}
.nav-icon:dir(rtl) {
transform: scaleX(-1);
}Live demo
Use cases
-
Browser-native behavior
Use :dir() to rely on the platform for behavior that would otherwise require extra code or CSS complexity.
-
Progressive enhancement
Enhance the experience where support exists while keeping a solid baseline elsewhere.
Cautions
- Check browser support and actual product need before adding a new platform feature widely.
- Keep feature usage understandable so future contributors know why it was chosen.
Accessibility
- New platform features should still preserve readable defaults and robust interaction patterns.
- Verify that enhancement paths do not leave unsupported environments with a broken experience.