text-align
The text-align
CSS property sets the horizontal alignment of the inline-level content inside a block element or table-cell box. This means it works like vertical-align
but in the horizontal direction.
Try it
Syntax
css
/* Keyword values */
text-align: start;
text-align: end;
text-align: left;
text-align: right;
text-align: center;
text-align: justify;
text-align: justify-all;
text-align: match-parent;
/* Character-based alignment in a table column */
text-align: ".";
text-align: "." center;
/* Block alignment values (Non-standard syntax) */
text-align: -moz-center;
text-align: -webkit-center;
/* Global values */
text-align: inherit;
text-align: initial;
text-align: revert;
text-align: revert-layer;
text-align: unset;
The text-align
property is specified in one of the following ways:
- Using the keyword values
start
,end
,left
,right
,center
,justify
,justify-all
, ormatch-parent
. - Using a
<string>
value only, in which case the other value defaults toright
. - Using both a keyword value and a
<string>
value.
Values
start
-
The same as
left
if direction is left-to-right andright
if direction is right-to-left. end
-
The same as
right
if direction is left-to-right andleft
if direction is right-to-left. left
-
The inline contents are aligned to the left edge of the line box.
right
-
The inline contents are aligned to the right edge of the line box.
center
-
The inline contents are centered within the line box.
justify
-
The inline contents are justified. Text should be spaced to line up its left and right edges to the left and right edges of the line box, except for the last line.
justify-all
Experimental-
Same as
justify
, but also forces the last line to be justified. match-parent
-
Similar to
inherit
, but the valuesstart
andend
are calculated according to the parent'sdirection
and are replaced by the appropriateleft
orright
value. <string>
Experimental-
When applied to a table cell, specifies the alignment character around which the cell's contents will align.
Accessibility concerns
The inconsistent spacing between words created by justified text can be problematic for people with cognitive concerns such as Dyslexia.
Formal definition
Initial value | start , or a nameless value that acts as left if direction is ltr , right if direction is rtl if start is not supported by the browser. |
---|---|
Applies to | block containers |
Inherited | yes |
Computed value | as specified, except for the match-parent value which is calculated against its parent's direction value and results in a computed value of either left or right |
Animation type | discrete |
Formal syntax
Examples
Start alignment
HTML
html
<p class="example">
Integer elementum massa at nulla placerat varius. Suspendisse in libero risus,
in interdum massa. Vestibulum ac leo vitae metus faucibus gravida ac in neque.
Nullam est eros, suscipit sed dictum quis, accumsan a ligula.
</p>
CSS
css
.example {
text-align: start;
border: solid;
}
Result
Centered text
HTML
html
<p class="example">
Integer elementum massa at nulla placerat varius. Suspendisse in libero risus,
in interdum massa. Vestibulum ac leo vitae metus faucibus gravida ac in neque.
Nullam est eros, suscipit sed dictum quis, accumsan a ligula.
</p>
CSS
css
.example {
text-align: center;
border: solid;
}
Result
Example using "justify"
HTML
html
<p class="example">
Integer elementum massa at nulla placerat varius. Suspendisse in libero risus,
in interdum massa. Vestibulum ac leo vitae metus faucibus gravida ac in neque.
Nullam est eros, suscipit sed dictum quis, accumsan a ligula.
</p>
CSS
css
.example {
text-align: justify;
border: solid;
}
Result
Specifications
Specification |
---|
CSS Logical Properties and Values Level 1 # text-align |
CSS Text Module Level 3 # text-align-property |
Browser compatibility
BCD tables only load in the browser