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Right-to-Left (RTL) Language Support

Key Concepts and Best Practices for Supporting RTL Languages in Your Application

  1. What are RTL languages? RTL stands for "right-to-left" and refers to languages that are written and read from the right side of the page to the left. Common RTL languages include Arabic, Hebrew, Persian (Farsi), and Urdu. Supporting these languages involves more than just translating text—it also requires thoughtful design and layout adaptations.

  2. Why RTL support matters in localization. For global products aiming to reach audiences in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia, RTL language support is essential. Poorly implemented RTL can lead to disjointed layouts, unreadable text, and a frustrating user experience, which may cause users to abandon your app or website altogether.

  3. How layouts must adapt for RTL. An RTL layout is not just a mirror of a left-to-right (LTR) layout—it often needs structural changes. Navigation menus typically appear on the right side, progress indicators move right to left, and elements such as sliders, tables, and modals should also follow the natural RTL flow.

  4. Text alignment and typography considerations. Text in RTL languages should be right-aligned by default, using fonts that are well-kerned and stylistically appropriate for each language. Be careful with mixed-language content—if your UI includes both RTL and LTR text (like numbers or brand names), make sure the bidirectional rendering is handled correctly.

  5. Mirroring UI elements and icons. Icons that imply direction, such as arrows or back buttons, need to be flipped to match the reading direction. A back arrow in an LTR interface points left, while in RTL it should point right. Ensure that any directional cues within graphics are also mirrored accordingly.

  6. Responsive design and testing for RTL. RTL support should be baked into your design system and tested across screen sizes and devices. You can use CSS properties like direction: rtl; and logical properties such as margin-inline-start to manage layout shifts effectively. 

  7. Common pitfalls to avoid. One common mistake is flipping the UI too literally, which can disrupt the logic of flows (e.g., undo/redo buttons, which retain their functional directionality). Another is failing to account for bidirectional text rendering in inputs and form fields. Use Unicode bidirectional control characters if needed.

  8. Lara and RTL readiness. Lara, our step-by-step guide assistant, comes fully equipped with RTL support. The UI automatically adjusts to right-to-left languages to ensure that users across all supported locales have a seamless and intuitive experience.

 

This article is about: 

  • Right-to-left languages (RTL)

  • RTL layout and design

  • Text direction and typography

  • UI mirroring and responsiveness

  • RTL in Lara