


How does the writing-mode property affect text layout and block flow direction?
Jun 21, 2025 am 12:28 AMwriting-mode controls the arrangement of text in web pages by changing the text flow direction and layout axis. Its core role is to adjust the layout direction of block-level elements and the arrangement of inline content. Specifically, it includes: 1.horizontal-tb is the default mode, the text is arranged from left to right, and the blocks are stacked from top to bottom; 2. vertical-rl makes the text arranged vertically, written from top to bottom, and the blocks extend from right to left; 3. vertical-lr is similar to vertical-rl, but the blocks extend from left to right; 4. sideways are used to keep the characters upright vertical layout. This property is very useful when implementing vertical text, international support and specific UI design, but it will also affect alignment, font rendering, and layout size calculations. When using it, you need to pay attention to compatibility and layout behavior changes.
The writing-mode
CSS property changes how text flows on a page, both horizontally and vertically. It affects the layout direction of block-level elements and the arrangement of inline content. This is especially useful when dealing with languages ??that are traditionally written vertically (like some East Asian scripts) or when designing specific UI layouts.
How writing-mode
controls text flow
By default, most web content uses horizontal-tb
, which means text flows from left to right (LTR), and blocks stack from top to bottom. But when you change the writing-mode
, it flips this logic:
-
vertical-rl
: Text flows vertically, starting from the top and going down, and blocks flow from right to left. -
vertical-lr
: Similar vertical flow, but blocks move from left to right. -
sideways
: Forces text to stay upright in vertical layouts (mostly for East Asian typography).
This affects not only the direction of paragraphs but also how things like tables, flex containers, or grid layouts behave — their main axis will rotate accordingly.
Common use cases and design considerations
You might want to use writing-mode
in these scenarios:
- Vertical text in UIs : For example, Japanese or Chinese vertical writing.
- Rotated labels in charts or sidebars : You can keep them vertical without rotating each character.
- Internationalization : Supporting different language conventionals more naturally.
When applying writing-mode
, keep in mind:
- It may affect alignment, especially if mixed with other directive settings like
direction
ortext-align
. - Font rendering and spacing can look slightly different depending on the writing mode.
- Some older browsers have limited support, so check compatibility if needed.
Layout behavior differences across modes
Switching writing-mode
changes the block and inline dimensions:
- In
horizontal-tb
, width defines the inline size, and height grows as content stacks vertically. - In
vertical-rl
, the element's height becomes the inline size (text flows downward), and width expands as more text is added horizontally.
This can be tricky when setting fixed sizes or using percentage-based widths and heights. Also, elements like buttons or form inputs may need extra styling adjustments when placed inside a rotated context.
So, yes, writing-mode
does more than just rotate text — it fundamentally alters how layout flows. It's powerful, but worth testing carefully, especially in complex designs.
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