PostCSS plugin to build Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) with Left-To-Right (LTR) and Right-To-Left (RTL) rules using RTLCSS
https://elchininet.github.io/postcss-rtlcss/
nmp install postcss-rtlcss --save-devyarn add postcss-rtlcss -Dconst postcss = require('postcss');
const { postcssRTLCSS } = require('postcss-rtlcss');
const options = { ... available options ... };
const result = postcss([
postcssRTLCSS(options)
]).process(cssInput);
const rtlCSS = result.css;import postcss from 'postcss';
import { postcssRTLCSS } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = { ... available options ... };
const result = postcss([
postcssRTLCSS(options)
]).process(cssInput);
const rtlCSS = result.css;rules: [
{
test: /\.css$/,
use: [
{ loader: 'style-loader' },
{ loader: 'css-loader' },
{
loader: 'postcss-loader',
options: {
ident: 'postcss',
plugins: () => [ require('postcss-rtlcss')(options) ]
}
}
]
}
].test1, .test2 {
background-color: #FFF;
background-position: 10px 20px;
border-radius: 0 2px 0 8px;
color: #666;
padding-right: 20px;
text-align: left;
transform: translate(-50%, 50%);
width: 100%;
}
.test3 {
direction: ltr;
margin: 1px 2px 3px;
padding: 10px 20px;
text-align: center;
}This is the recommended method, it will generate more CSS code but each direction will have their specific CSS declarations and there is not need to override properties.
.test1, .test2 {
background-color: #FFF;
background-position: 10px 20px;
color: #666;
width: 100%;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
border-radius: 0 2px 0 8px;
padding-right: 20px;
text-align: left;
transform: translate(-50%, 50%);
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
border-radius: 2px 0 8px 0;
padding-left: 20px;
text-align: right;
transform: translate(50%, 50%);
}
.test3 {
margin: 1px 2px 3px;
padding: 10px 20px;
text-align: center;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test3 {
direction: ltr;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test3 {
direction: rtl;
}This is the alternative method, it will generate less code because it lets the main rule intact and generates a shorter specific rule to override the properties that are affected by the direction of the text.
.test1, .test2 {
background-color: #FFF;
background-position: 10px 20px;
border-radius: 0 2px 0 8px;
color: #666;
padding-right: 20px;
text-align: left;
transform: translate(-50%, 50%);
width: 100%;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
border-radius: 2px 0 8px 0;
padding-right: unset;
padding-left: 20px;
text-align: right;
transform: translate(50%, 50%);
}
.test3 {
direction: ltr;
margin: 1px 2px 3px;
padding: 10px 20px;
text-align: center;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test3 {
direction: rtl;
}But this method has a disadvantage:
Disadvantage of the override method
Use this method carefully. It can override a property that is coming from another class if multiple classes are used at the same time. Take a look at the next HTML and CSS codes:
<div class="test1 test2">
This is an example
</div> .test1 {
background: #666;
color: #FFF;
padding: 20px;
}
.test2 {
padding-right: 10px;
}Using the combined method, the generated code will be the next one:
.test1 {
background: #666;
color: #FFF;
padding: 20px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test2 {
padding-right: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test2 {
padding-left: 10px;
}So, the div will have a padding of 20px 10px 20px 20px in LTR and 20px 20px 20px 10px in RTL.
However, using the override method the generated code will be the next one:
.test1 {
background: #666;
color: #FFF;
padding: 20px;
}
.test2 {
padding-right: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test2 {
padding-right: unset;
padding-left: 10px;
}Now the div has a padding of 20px 10px 20px 20px in LTR and 20px 0 20px 10px in RTL, because the override of the class test2 doesn't take into account that this class could be used with test1 having the same properties. The solution, in this case, is to provide the property that has been inherited:
.test1 {
background: #666;
color: #FFF;
padding: 20px;
}
.test2 {
padding-left: 20px;
padding-right: 10px;
}So, the generated code will be:
.test1 {
background: #666;
color: #FFF;
padding: 20px;
}
.test2 {
padding-left: 20px;
padding-right: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test2 {
padding-right: 20px;
padding-left: 10px;
}All the options are optional, and a default value will be used, if any of them is omitted or de type or format of them is wrong
| Option | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| mode | Mode (string) |
Mode.combined |
Mode of generating the final CSS rules |
| ltrPrefix | string or string[] |
[dir="ltr"] |
Prefix to use in the left-to-right CSS rules |
| rtlPrefix | string or string[] |
[dir="rtl"] |
Prefix to use in the right-to-left CSS rules |
| bothPrefix | string or string[] |
[dir] |
Prefix to use for styles in both directions when the specificity of the ltr or rtl styles will override them |
| safeBothPrefix | boolean |
false |
Add the bothPrefix to those declarations that can be flipped to avoid them being overridden by specificity |
| source | Source (string) |
Source.ltr |
The direction from which the final CSS will be generated |
| processUrls | boolean |
false |
Change the strings using the string map also in URLs |
| processKeyFrames | boolean |
false |
Flip keyframe animations |
| useCalc | boolean |
false |
Flips background-position, background-position-x and transform-origin properties if they are expressed in length units using calc |
| stringMap | PluginStringMap[] |
Check below | An array of strings maps that will be used to make the replacements of the URLs and rules selectors names |
| autoRename | Autorename (string) |
Autorename.disabled |
Flip or not the selectors names of the rules without directional properties using the stringMap |
| greedy | boolean |
false |
When autoRename is enabled and greedy is true, the strings replacements will not take into account word boundaries |
Expand
The mode option has been explained in the Output using the combined mode and Output using the override mode sections. To avoid using magic strings, the package exposes an object with these values, but it is possible to using strings values:
import postcss from 'postcss';
import { postcssRTLCSS, Mode } from 'postcss-trlcss';
const input = '... css code ...';
const optionsCombined = { mode: Mode.combined }; // This is the default value
const optionsOverride = { mode: Mode.override };
const outputCombined = postcss([
postcssRTLCSS(optionsCombined)
]).process(input);
const outputOverride = postcss([
postcssRTLCSS(optionsOverride)
]).process(input);Expand
These two options manage the prefix strings for each direction. They can be strings or arrays of strings:
.test1, .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
.test3,
.test4 {
text-align: left;
}const options = {
ltrPrefix: '.ltr',
rtlPrefix: '.rtl'
};.ltr .test1, .ltr .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
.rtl .test1, .rtl .test2 {
right: 10px;
}
.ltr .test3,
.ltr .test4 {
text-align: left;
}
.rtl .test3,
.rtl .test4 {
text-align: right;
}const options = {
ltrPrefix: ['[dir="ltr"]', '.ltr'],
rtlPrefix: ['[dir="rtl"]', '.rtl']
};[dir="ltr"] .test1, .ltr .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2, .ltr .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, .rtl .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2, .rtl .test2 {
right: 10px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test3,
.ltr .test3,
[dir="ltr"] .test4,
.ltr .test4 {
text-align: left;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test3,
.rtl .test3,
[dir="rtl"] .test4,
.rtl .test4 {
text-align: right;
}Expand
This prefix will be used in some specific cases in which a ltr or rtl rule will override declarations located in the main rule due to specificity. Consider the next example using the option processUrls as true:
.test1 {
background: url('icons/ltr/arrow.png');
background-size: 10px 20px;
width: 10px;
}The generated CSS would be:
.test1 {
background-size: 10px 20px;
width: 10px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1 {
background: url('icons/ltr/arrow.png');
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1 {
background: url('icons/rtl/arrow.png');
}In the previous case, the background-size property has been overridden by the background one. Even if we change the order of the rules, the last ones have a higher specificity, so they will rule over the first one.
To solve this, another rule will be created at the end using the bothPrefix parameter:
.test1 {
width: 10px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1 {
background: url('icons/ltr/arrow.png');
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1 {
background: url('icons/rtl/arrow.png');
}
[dir] {
background-size: 10px 20px;
}And no matter the direction, the background-size property is respected.
Expand
This option will add the boxPrefix option to those declarations that can be flipped, no matter if they are not overridden in the same rule. This avoids them being overridden by specificity of other flipped declarations contained in other rules. For example, let's consider that we have a div element with the next rules:
<div class="test1 test2">
This is an example
</div> .test1 {
color: #FFF;
padding: 4px 10px 4px 20px;
width: 100%;
}
.test2 {
padding: 0;
}The expecting result is that the padding of the element becomes 0 as it has been reset by test2. With safeBothPrefix in false, the generated CSS will be:
.test1 {
color: #FFF;
width: 100%;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1 {
padding: 4px 10px 4px 20px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1 {
padding: 4px 20px 4px 10px;
}
.test2 {
padding: 0;
}The result is that the padding properties of test1 have more specificity than the same property in tes2, so it is not reset if both rules are applied at the same time. Let's check the result if safeBothPrefix is true:
.test1 {
color: #FFF;
width: 100%;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1 {
padding: 4px 10px 4px 20px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1 {
padding: 4px 20px 4px 10px;
}
[dir] .test2 {
padding: 0;
}As test2 has the same level of specificity as test1, now the result is that the padding is reset if both rules are used at the same time.
Expand
This option manages if the conversion will be from LTR to RTL or vice versa.
.test1, .test2 {
left: 10px;
}import { Mode, Source } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = {
mode: Mode.combined,
source: Source.ltr // This is the default value
};[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
right: 10px;
}import { Mode, Source } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = {
mode: Mode.override,
source: Source.rtl
};.test1, .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
left: unset;
right: 10px;
}Expand
This options manages if the strings of the URLs should be flipped taken into account the string map:
.test1, .test2 {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/ltr/chevron-left.png");
left: 10px;
}const options = { processUrls: false }; // This is the default value.test1, .test2 {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/ltr/chevron-left.png");
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
right: 10px;
}const options = { processUrls: true };[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/ltr/chevron-left.png");
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/rtl/chevron-right.png");
right: 10px;
}Expand
This option manages if the @keyframes animation rules should be flipped:
.test1 {
animation: 5s flip 1s ease-in-out;
color: #FFF;
}
@keyframes flip {
from {
transform: translateX(100px);
}
to {
transform: translateX(0);
}
}const options = { processKeyFrames: false }; // This is the default value.test1 {
animation: 5s flip 1s ease-in-out;
color: #FFF;
}
@keyframes flip {
from {
transform: translateX(100px);
}
to {
transform: translateX(0);
}
}const options = { processKeyFrames: true };.test1 {
color: #FFF;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1 {
animation: 5s flip-ltr 1s ease-in-out;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1 {
animation: 5s flip-rtl 1s ease-in-out;
}
@keyframes flip-ltr {
from {
transform: translateX(100px);
}
to {
transform: translateX(0);
}
}
@keyframes flip-rtl {
from {
transform: translateX(-100px);
}
to {
transform: translateX(0);
}
}Expand
This options, when it is enabled, flips background-position, background-position-x and transform-origin properties if they are expressed in length units using calc:
.test {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/ltr/chevron-left.png");
background-position-x: 5px;
left: 10px;
transform-origin: 10px 20px;
transform: scale(0.5, 0.5);
}const options = { useCalc: false }; // This is the default value.test {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/ltr/chevron-left.png");
background-position-x: 5px;
transform-origin: 10px 20px;
transform: scale(0.5, 0.5);
}
[dir="ltr"] .test {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test {
right: 10px;
}const options = { useCalc: true };.test {
background-image: url("./folder/subfolder/icons/ltr/chevron-left.png");
transform: scale(0.5, 0.5);
}
[dir="ltr"] .test {
background-position-x: 5px;
left: 10px;
transform-origin: 10px 20px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test {
background-position-x: calc(100% - 5px);
right: 10px;
transform-origin: calc(100% - 10px) 20px;
}Expand
An array of strings maps that will be used to make the replacements of the URLs and rules selectors names. The name parameter is optional, but if you want to override any of the default string maps, just add your own using the same name.
// This is the default string map object
const options = {
stringMap: [
{
name: 'left-right',
search : ['left', 'Left', 'LEFT'],
replace : ['right', 'Right', 'RIGHT']
},
{
name: 'ltr-rtl',
search : ['ltr', 'Ltr', 'LTR'],
replace : ['rtl', 'Rtl', 'RTL'],
}
]
};Expand
Flip or not the selectors names of the rules without directional properties using the stringMap.
.test1-ltr {
color: #FFF;
}
.test2-left::before {
content: "\f007";
}
.test2-right::before {
content: "\f010";
}import { Autorename } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = {
autoRename: Autorename.flexible
};.test1-rtl {
color: #FFF;
}
.test2-right::before {
content: "\f007";
}
.test2-left::before {
content: "\f010";
}import { Autorename } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = {
autoRename: Autorename.strict
};/* This selector will not be flipped because it doesn't have a counterpart */
.test1-ltr {
color: #FFF;
}
.test2-right::before {
content: "\f007";
}
.test2-left::before {
content: "\f010";
}Expand
When autoRename is enabled and greedy is true, the strings replacements will not take into account word boundaries.
.test1-ltr {
color: #FFF;
}
.test2ltr {
width: 100%;
}import { Autorename } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = {
autoRename: Autorename.flexible,
greedy: false // This is the default value
};.test1-rtl {
color: #FFF;
}
.test2ltr {
width: 100%;
}import { Autorename } from 'postcss-rtlcss';
const options = {
autoRename: Autorename.flexible,
greedy: true
};.test1-rtl {
color: #FFF;
}
.test2rtl {
width: 100%;
}Control directives are placed between rules or declarations. They can target a single node or a set of nodes.
| Directive | Description |
|---|---|
/*rtl:ignore*/ |
Ignores processing of the following rule or declaration |
/*rtl:begin:ignore*/ |
Starts an ignoring block |
/*rtl:end:ignore*/ |
Ends an ignoring block |
/*rtl:rename*/ |
This directive forces renaming in the next rule or declaration no mattering the value of the properties processUrls or autoRename |
/*rtl:begin:rename*/ |
Starts a renaming block |
/*rtl:end:rename*/ |
Ends a renaming block |
/*rtl:raw:{CSS}*/ |
Parses the CSS parameter and inserts it in its place. Depending on the source parameter the parsed CSS will be treated as rtl or ltr |
Expand
This directive ignores processing of the following rule or declaration. In the next block the whole declaration will be ignored:
/*rtl:ignore*/
.test1, .test2 {
text-align: left;
left: 10px;
}.test1, .test2 {
text-align: left;
left: 10px;
}In the next block only the left property will be ignored:
.test3, .test4 {
text-align: left;
/*rtl:ignore*/
left: 10px;
}.test3, .test4 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test3, [dir="ltr"] .test4 {
text-align: left;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test3, [dir="rtl"] .test4 {
text-align: right;
}Expand
These directives should be used together, they will provide the beginning and the end for ignoring rules or declarations.
Note: The directives inserted between these blocks will be ignored and maintained in the final output.
Ignoring multiple rules:
/*rtl:begin:ignore*/
.test1, .test2 {
left: 10px;
text-align: left;
}
.test3 {
padding: 1px 2px 3px 4px;
}
/*rtl:end:ignore*/.test1, .test2 {
left: 10px;
text-align: left;
}
.test3 {
padding: 1px 2px 3px 4px;
}Ignoring multiple declarations:
.test1, .test2 {
left: 10px;
/*rtl:begin:ignore*/
margin-left: 4em;
padding: 1px 2px 3px 4px;
/*rtl:end:ignore*/
text-align: left;
}.test1, .test2 {
margin-left: 4em;
padding: 1px 2px 3px 4px;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
left: 10px;
text-align: left;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
right: 10px;
text-align: right;
}Expand
This directive forces renaming in the next rule or declaration no mattering the value of the properties processUrls or autoRename:
/*rtl:rename*/
.test-left {
width: 100%;
}
.test {
/*rtl:rename*/
background-image: url("/icons/icon-left.png");
}.test-right {
width: 100%
}
[dir="ltr"] .test {
background-image: url("/icons/icon-left.png");
}
[dir="rtl"] .test {
background-image: url("/icons/icon-right.png");
}Expand
These directives should be used together, they will provide the beginning and the end for renaming rules or declarations.
/*rtl:begin:rename*/
.icon-left {
content: "\\f40";
}
.icon-right {
content: "\\f56";
}
/*rtl:end:rename*/
.test {
/*rtl:begin:rename*/
background-image: url("/images/background-left.png");
cursor: url("/images/cursor-ltr.png");
/*rtl:end:rename*/
}.icon-right {
content: "\\f40";
}
.icon-left {
content: "\\f56";
}
[dir="ltr"] .test {
background-image: url("/images/background-left.png");
cursor: url("/images/cursor-ltr.png");
}
[dir="rtl"] .test {
background-image: url("/images/background-right.png");
cursor: url("/images/cursor-rtl.png");
}Expand
Parses the CSS parameter and inserts it in its place. Depending on the source parameter the parsed CSS will be treated as rtl or ltr:
.test1 {
color: #EFEFEF;
left: 10px;
/*rtl:raw:
height: 50px;
width: 100px;*/
}
/*rtl:raw:.test2 {
color: #EFEFEF;
left: 10px;
width: 100%;
}
.test3 {
transform: translate(10px, 20px);
}
*/.test1 {
color: #EFEFEF;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1 {
right: 10px;
height: 50px;
width: 100px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test2 {
color: #EFEFEF;
left: 10px;
width: 100%;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test3 {
transform: translate(10px, 20px);
}Value directives are placed anywhere inside the declaration value. They target the containing declaration node.
| Directive | Description |
|---|---|
/*rtl:ignore*/ |
Ignores processing of the declaration |
/*rtl:append{value}*/ |
Appends {value} to the end of the declaration value |
/*rtl:insert:{value}*/ |
Inserts {value} to where the directive is located inside the declaration value |
/*rtl:prepend:{value}*/ |
Prepends {value} to the begining of the declaration value |
/*rtl:{value}*/ |
Replaces the declaration value with {value} |
Expand
This directive ignores processing of the current declaration:
.test1, .test2 {
text-align: left /*rtl:ignore*/;
left: 10px;
}.test1, .test2 {
text-align: left;
}
[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
right: 10px;
}Expand
This directive appends {value} to the end of the declaration value:
.test1, .test2 {
padding: 10px /*rtl:append20px*/;
left: 10px;
}[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
padding: 10px;
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
padding: 10px 20px;
right: 10px;
}Expand
This directive inserts {value} to where the directive is located inside the declaration value:
.test1, .test2 {
padding: 10px/*rtl:insert 20px*/ 5px;
left: 10px;
}[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
padding: 10px 5px;
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
padding: 10px 20px 5px;
right: 10px;
}Expand
This directive prepends {value} to the begining of the declaration value:
.test1, .test2 {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica/*rtl:prepend:"Droid Arabic Kufi", */;
left: 10px;
}[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica;
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
font-family: "Droid Arabic Kufi", Arial, Helvetica;
right: 10px;
}Expand
This directive replaces the declaration value with {value}:
.test1, .test2 {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica/*rtl:"Droid Arabic Kufi"*/;
left: 10px;
}[dir="ltr"] .test1, [dir="ltr"] .test2 {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica;
left: 10px;
}
[dir="rtl"] .test1, [dir="rtl"] .test2 {
font-family: "Droid Arabic Kufi";
right: 10px;
}If you do not use PostCSS, add it according to official docs and set this plugin in settings.