writing-mode

The writing-mode attribute specifies whether the initial inline-progression-direction for a <text> element shall be left-to-right, right-to-left, or top-to-bottom. The writing-mode attribute applies only to <text> elements; the attribute is ignored for <tspan>, <tref>, <altGlyph> and <textPath> sub-elements. (Note that the inline-progression-direction can change within a <text> element due to the Unicode bidirectional algorithm and properties direction and unicode-bidi.)

Note: As a presentation attribute, writing-mode can be used as a CSS property. See the CSS writing-mode property for more information.

You can use this attribute with the following SVG elements:

Usage notes

Default value horizontal-tb
Value horizontal-tb | vertical-rl | vertical-lr
Animatable Yes
horizontal-tb

This value defines a top-to-bottom block flow direction. Both the writing mode and the typographic mode are horizontal.

vertical-rl

This value defines a right-to-left block flow direction. Both the writing mode and the typographic mode are vertical.

vertical-lr

This value defines a left-to-right block flow direction. Both the writing mode and the typographic mode are vertical.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Writing Modes Module Level 3
The definition of 'writing-mode' in that specification.		 Proposed Recommendation Definition in CSS Writing Modes 3
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2
The definition of 'writing-mode' in that specification.		 Candidate Recommendation Mainly refers to the definition in CSS Writing Modes 3 and defines a mapping between the deprecated SVG 1.1 values and the new values.
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 (Second Edition)
The definition of 'writing-mode' in that specification.		 Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

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See also