The dir global attribute is an enumerated attribute that indicates the directionality of the element's text.
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It can have the following values:
ltr, which means left to right and is to be used for languages that are written from the left to the right (like English);rtl, which means right to left and is to be used for languages that are written from the right to the left (like Arabic);auto, which lets the user agent decide. It uses a basic algorithm as it parses the characters inside the element until it finds a character with a strong directionality, then applies that directionality to the whole element.
Usage notes: This attribute is mandatory for the <bdo> element where it has a different semantic meaning.
-
This attribute is not inherited by the
<bdi>element. If not set, its value isauto. -
This attribute can be overridden by the CSS properties
directionandunicode-bidi, if a CSS page is active and the element supports these properties. -
As the directionality of the text is semantically related to its content and not to its presentation, it is recommended that web developers use this attribute instead of the related CSS properties when possible. That way, the text will display correctly even on a browser that doesn't support CSS or has the CSS deactivated.
-
The
autovalue should be used for data with an unknown directionality, like data coming from user input, eventually stored in a database.
Browsers might allow users to change the directionality of <input> and <textarea>s in order to assist with authoring content. Chrome and Safari provide a directionality option in the contextual menu of input fields while Internet Explorer and Edge use the key combinations Ctrl + Left Shift and Ctrl + Right Shift. Firefox uses Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X but does NOT update the dir attribute value.
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| HTML Living Standard The definition of 'dir' in that specification. |
Living Standard | No change from latest snapshot, HTML 5.1 |
| HTML 5.1 The definition of 'dir' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Snapshot of HTML Living Standard, no change from HTML5 |
| HTML5 The definition of 'dir' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Snapshot of HTML Living Standard, from HTML 4.01 Specification it added the auto value, and is now a true global attribute. |
| HTML 4.01 Specification The definition of 'dir' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Supported on all elements but <applet>, <base>, <basefont>, <bdo>, <br>, <frame>, <frameset>, <iframe>, <param>, and <script>. |
Browser compatibility
| Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
dir | Chrome Full support Yes | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox Full support Yes | IE No support No | Opera Full support Yes | Safari Full support Yes | WebView Android Full support Yes | Chrome Android Full support Yes | Firefox Android Full support Yes | Opera Android Full support Yes | Safari iOS Full support Yes | Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
See also
- All global attributes.
HTMLElement.dirthat reflects this attribute.