Web/HTML/Global attributes/dir

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 is auto.
• This attribute can be overridden by the CSS properties direction and unicode-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 auto value 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 StandardThe definition of 'dir' in that specification.	Living Standard	No change from latest snapshot, HTML 5.1
HTML 5.1The definition of 'dir' in that specification.	Recommendation	Snapshot of HTML Living Standard, no change from HTML5
HTML5The 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 SpecificationThe 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

The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
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.dir that reflects this attribute.

dir by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.