Learn about its use cases, available options like normal, embed, isolate, and more for better text control.
Introduction
The unicode-bidi
CSS property helps manage bidirectional text, which mixes left-to-right and right-to-left scripts. It’s particularly useful for multilingual websites. While user agents usually handle this with a complex Unicode algorithm, unicode-bidi
gives developers control over text embedding.
Specification
The unicode-bidi
property is defined in the CSS Writing Modes Level 4 specification. You can find the current specification here:
Description
The unicode-bidi
property controls the embedding level of bidirectional text. It helps manage text direction in documents with mixed scripts. This property can override the normal bidirectional algorithm, which is crucial for ensuring correct text display in multilingual content.
Syntax
The syntax for the unicode-bidi
property is:
Values
normal
- Default value. No additional embedding level.
embed
- Adds an embedding level for inline elements. Direction is set by the
direction
property.
bidi-override
- Overrides the bidirectional algorithm. Text is displayed in sequence according to the
direction
property.
isolate
- Isolates the element from its siblings. Directionality is calculated without considering the content of this element.
isolate-override
- Combines the behaviors of
isolate
andbidi-override
.
plaintext
- Directionality is calculated without considering the parent bidirectional state or the
direction
property. Useful for pre-formatted text.
Formal Definition
- Initial Value:
normal
- Applies To: All elements, but some values have no effect on non-inline elements.
- Inherited: No
- Computed Value: As specified
- Animation Type: Not animatable
- Formal Syntax:
Examples
Here are practical examples of how to use the unicode-bidi
property:
Using embed
CSS:
HTML:
Using bidi-override
CSS:
HTML:
Using isolate
CSS:
HTML:
Using isolate-override
CSS:
HTML:
Using plaintext
CSS:
HTML:
Browser Compatibility
The unicode-bidi
CSS property is widely supported across major web browsers, making it a reliable tool for managing bidirectional text in your projects. Here’s a quick overview of browser compatibility:
- Google Chrome: Supported since version 2.0.
- Microsoft Edge: Supported since version 12.0.
- Internet Explorer: Supported since version 5.5.
- Mozilla Firefox: Supported since version 1.0.
- Safari: Supported since version 1.3.
- Opera: Supported since version 9.2.
Browser Compatibility Table
Browser | Version |
---|---|
Google Chrome | 2.0+ |
Microsoft Edge | 12.0+ |
Internet Explorer | 5.5+ |
Mozilla Firefox | 1.0+ |
Safari | 1.3+ |
Opera | 9.2+ |
See Also
For further reading and to deepen your understanding of the unicode-bidi
property, check out these resources:
- MDN Web Docs - CSS
unicode-bidi
WebsiteUrl: Comprehensive documentation, including explanations, examples, and compatibility information. - CSS Writing Modes Level 4 Specification WebsiteUrl: Outlines rules and behaviors for handling bidirectional text in CSS.
- Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm WebsiteUrl: Detailed documentation on the bidirectional algorithm by the Unicode Consortium.
- Can I Use - unicode-bidi WebsiteUrl: Useful tool for checking browser compatibility.
- W3C CSS Writing Modes Module WebsiteUrl: Official specification for the CSS Writing Modes module, including the
unicode-bidi
property. - CSS Tricks - unicode-bidi WebsiteUrl: Practical tips and best practices for using the
unicode-bidi
property.
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