CSS writing-mode Property

Posted in CSS Tutorial

Updated on Jul 14, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 14 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

The writing-mode property in CSS is used to define the direction and orientation of text. This property is particularly useful for languages that are written vertically, such as Japanese and Chinese, as well as for creating unique layouts where text direction plays a key role.

By using the writing-mode property, you can control whether text is laid out horizontally or vertically and the direction in which lines are stacked.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the writing-mode property is simple and consists of specifying one of the predefined values.

Syntax

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element {
  writing-mode: value;
}

🎛️ Default Value

The default value of the writing-mode property is horizontal-tb, which means text is written horizontally and lines are stacked from top to bottom.

🏠 Property Values

Value	Description
horizontal-tb	Text is written horizontally, and lines are stacked from top to bottom (default).
vertical-rl	Text is written vertically, and lines are stacked from right to left.
vertical-lr	Text is written vertically, and lines are stacked from left to right.
sideways-rl	Text is written horizontally but rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, with lines stacked from right to left.
sideways-lr	Text is written horizontally but rotated 90 degrees clockwise, with lines stacked from left to right.

📄 Example

In this example, we'll change the writing mode of a paragraph to vertical, with lines stacked from right to left.

index.html

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>CSS writing-mode Example</title>
  <style>
    p {
      writing-mode: vertical-rl;
      border: 1px solid #000;
      width: 200px;
      height: 100px;
      padding: 10px;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Paragraph with Vertical Writing Mode</h1>
  <p>
    This is a paragraph with the writing mode set to vertical-rl. The text is written vertically, and lines are stacked from right to left.
  </p>
</body>
</html>

🖥️ Browser Compatibility

The writing-mode property is supported in most modern browsers, including the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. However, it is always a good practice to test your website across different browsers to ensure compatibility.

🎉 Conclusion

The writing-mode property is a versatile tool for web developers looking to create unique text layouts and support various writing systems.

By controlling the direction and orientation of text, you can enhance the readability and aesthetic appeal of your website. Experiment with different values and see how this property can transform the way your content is displayed.