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SVG Logical Properties for RTL Layouts

Directional icons (arrows, chevrons) need explicit mirroring in RTL layouts — CSS logical properties and transforms handle it cleanly.

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Identifying Icons That Need Mirroring

Not every icon needs RTL mirroring — logos and symmetric icons stay identical, but directional icons (back/forward arrows, chevrons indicating expand direction) must flip in RTL contexts to preserve their meaning, since 'forward' points the opposite screen direction in Arabic or Hebrew layouts.

  • Directional icons (arrows, chevrons) require RTL mirroring
  • Symmetric icons and logos should NOT be mirrored
  • Meaning-based logic matters more than blanket rules here

Implementation with CSS

Use `[dir="rtl"] .icon-directional { transform: scaleX(-1); }` to flip only the icons that need it, or better, use CSS logical properties (`margin-inline-start` instead of `margin-left`) throughout so spacing and positioning adapt automatically without any JavaScript direction detection.

  • transform: scaleX(-1) mirrors specific directional icons in RTL
  • CSS logical properties (inline-start/end) adapt spacing automatically
  • Scope the mirroring rule narrowly — don't flip every icon globally

Frequently Asked Questions

Should a play button icon be mirrored in RTL?

No — media playback direction is a universal convention, not a text-direction concept, so play/pause icons should stay consistent regardless of RTL or LTR layout.

How do I detect RTL context in CSS without JavaScript?

The [dir="rtl"] attribute selector targets any element (or ancestor) with dir="rtl" set, typically applied at the <html> level — CSS handles the conditional styling without needing any JavaScript direction detection.

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