`:dir()` CSS pseudo-class

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It's been available across browsers since December 2023.

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

:dir([ltr | rtl]) {
  /* ... */
}

Parameters

The :dir() pseudo-class requires one parameter, representing the text directionality you want to target.

ltr: Target left-to-right elements.
rtl: Target right-to-left elements.

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
HTML # selector-ltr
HTML # selector-rtl
Selectors Level 4 # dir-pseudo

Browser compatibility

	Desktop					Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Opera	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox for Android	Opera Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet	WebView Android	WebView on iOS
`dir`	120	120	49 17–53	106	16.4	120	49 17–53	80	16.4	25.0	120	16.4