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unicode-bidi

The unicode-bidi CSS property, together with the direction property, determines how bidirectional text in a document is handled. For example, if a block of content contains both left-to-right and right-to-left text, the user-agent uses a complex Unicode algorithm to decide how to display the text. The unicode-bidi property overrides this algorithm and allows the developer to control the text embedding.

Try it

The unicode-bidi and direction properties are the only properties that are not affected by the all shorthand.

Warning: This property is intended for Document Type Definition (DTD) designers. Web designers and similar authors should not override it.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
unicode-bidi: normal;
unicode-bidi: embed;
unicode-bidi: isolate;
unicode-bidi: bidi-override;
unicode-bidi: isolate-override;
unicode-bidi: plaintext;

/* Global values */
unicode-bidi: inherit;
unicode-bidi: initial;
unicode-bidi: revert;
unicode-bidi: revert-layer;
unicode-bidi: unset;

Values

normal

The element does not offer an additional level of embedding with respect to the bidirectional algorithm. For inline elements, implicit reordering works across element boundaries.

embed

If the element is inline, this value opens an additional level of embedding with respect to the bidirectional algorithm. The direction of this embedding level is given by the direction property.

bidi-override

For inline elements this creates an override. For block container elements this creates an override for inline-level descendants not within another block container element. This means that inside the element, reordering is strictly in sequence according to the direction property; the implicit part of the bidirectional algorithm is ignored.

isolate

This keyword indicates that the element's container directionality should be calculated without considering the content of this element. The element is therefore isolated from its siblings. When applying its bidirectional-resolution algorithm, its container element treats it as one or several U+FFFC Object Replacement Character, i.e. like an image.

isolate-override

This keyword applies the isolation behavior of the isolate keyword to the surrounding content and the override behavior of the bidi-override keyword to the inner content.

plaintext

This keyword makes the elements directionality calculated without considering its parent bidirectional state or the value of the direction property. The directionality is calculated using the P2 and P3 rules of the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm. This value allows the display of data that is already formatted using a tool following the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm.

Formal definition

Initial value normal
Applies to all elements, though some values have no effect on non-inline elements
Inherited no
Computed value as specified
Animation type discrete

Formal syntax

unicode-bidi = 
normal |
embed |
isolate |
bidi-override |
isolate-override |
plaintext

Examples

CSS

.bible-quote {
  direction: rtl;
  unicode-bidi: embed;
}

HTML

<div class="bible-quote">A line of text</div>
<div>Another line of text</div>

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
unicode-bidi 2 12 1 5.5 9.2 1.3 4.4 18 4 10.1 1 1.0
isolate 48
16["Avoiding using -webkit-isolate. It can lock up older versions of Safari (up to version 9) and Chrome (up to version 47).", "Since Chrome 19, the syntax from a previous version of the specification, where the isolate keyword could be used together with bidi-override, is allowed."]
7979 50
10–54From Firefox 10 to Firefox 16 (inclusive), the isolate keyword could be used together with bidi-override, which was the syntax from a previous version of the specification. From Firefox 17, only one value is allowed. Use isolate-override instead the previous isolate bidi-override.
No 35
15["Avoiding using -webkit-isolate. It can lock up older versions of Opera (up to version 34).", "The syntax from a previous version of the specification, where the isolate keyword could be used together with bidi-override, is allowed."]
11
6Avoiding using -webkit-isolate. It can lock up older versions of Safari (up to version 9) and Chrome (up to version 47).
48 48 50
10–54From Firefox 10 to Firefox 16 (inclusive), the isolate keyword could be used together with bidi-override, which was the syntax from a previous version of the specification. From Firefox 17, only one value is allowed. Use isolate-override instead the previous isolate bidi-override.
35 11
6Avoiding using -webkit-isolate. It can lock up older versions of Safari (up to version 9) and Chrome (up to version 47).
5.0
isolate-override 48 79 5017–54 No 35 117 48 48 5017–54 35 117 5.0
plaintext 48 79 50
10–54["Before Firefox 50, the plaintext value was ignored for vertical writing modes (bug 1302734).", "Before Firefox 15, plaintext didn't do anything to an inline element. The specification changed and the implementation was changed in Firefox 15."]
No 35 116 48 48 50
10–54["Before Firefox 50, the plaintext value was ignored for vertical writing modes (bug 1302734).", "Before Firefox 15, plaintext didn't do anything to an inline element. The specification changed and the implementation was changed in Firefox 15."]
35 116 5.0

See also

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Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/unicode-bidi