Syntax
<bdi>Username</bdi>
<bdo dir="rtl">Reversed direction text</bdo>Examples
Isolating User-Generated Content
Preventing an unknown-direction username from disrupting surrounding layout.
<ul>
<li><bdi>Ahmad</bdi>: 95 points</li>
<li><bdi>Fatima</bdi>: 88 points</li>
</ul>Forcing Right-to-Left Direction
Using bdo to override the natural rendering direction.
<p>Normal direction text.</p>
<bdo dir="rtl">This text is forced right-to-left.</bdo>Attributes
- dir (ltr | rtl): Used on <bdo> to specify the forced text direction
Best practices
- Use <bdi> when displaying user-generated text (like names) whose language direction is not known in advance
- Use <bdo> sparingly, only when you genuinely need to override natural text direction, not for styling
- Prefer the CSS unicode-bidi and direction properties for broader layout-level direction control
- Test bidirectional content with real right-to-left text (Arabic, Hebrew) rather than assuming it works
Browser compatibility
Support applies to the named feature, not every attribute or behaviour in this article. Versions refer to browsers, not operating systems.
<bdi>
Desktop
- Chrome
- Supported
From 16 - Firefox
- Supported
From 10 - Safari
- Supported
From 6 - Edge
- Supported
From 79 - Opera
- Supported
From 15
Mobile
- Safari on iOS
- Supported
From 6 - Chrome for Android
- Supported
From 18 - Firefox for Android
- Supported
From 10 - Samsung Internet
- Supported
From 1.0
MDN BCD record for this feature · MDN reference
Support history and limitations
Chrome
- From 16
Firefox
- From 10
Safari
- From 6
Edge
- From 79
Opera
- From 15
Safari on iOS
- From 6
Chrome for Android
- From 18
Firefox for Android
- From 10
Samsung Internet
- From 1.0
<bdo>
Desktop
- Chrome
- Supported
By 15 (possibly earlier) - Firefox
- Supported
From 10 - Safari
- Supported
By 4 (possibly earlier) - Edge
- Supported
From 12 - Opera
- Supported
From 15
Mobile
- Safari on iOS
- Supported
By 3.2 (possibly earlier) - Chrome for Android
- Supported
From 18 - Firefox for Android
- Supported
From 10 - Samsung Internet
- Supported
From 1.0
MDN BCD record for this feature · MDN reference
Support history and limitations
Chrome
- By 15 (possibly earlier)
Firefox
- From 10
Safari
- By 4 (possibly earlier)
Edge
- From 12
Opera
- From 15
Safari on iOS
- By 3.2 (possibly earlier)
Chrome for Android
- From 18
Firefox for Android
- From 10
Samsung Internet
- From 1.0
dir
Desktop
- Chrome
- Supported
From 1 - Firefox
- Supported
From 1 - Safari
- Supported
By 4 (possibly earlier) - Edge
- Supported
By 15 (possibly earlier) - Opera
- Supported
From 15
Mobile
- Safari on iOS
- Supported
By 3.2 (possibly earlier) - Chrome for Android
- Supported
From 18 - Firefox for Android
- Supported
From 4 - Samsung Internet
- Supported
From 1.0
MDN BCD record for this feature · MDN reference
Support history and limitations
Chrome
- From 1
Firefox
- From 1
Safari
- By 4 (possibly earlier)
Edge
- By 15 (possibly earlier)
Opera
- From 15
Safari on iOS
- By 3.2 (possibly earlier)
Chrome for Android
- From 18
Firefox for Android
- From 4
Samsung Internet
- From 1.0
MDN BCD 8.1.5 · Dataset built 2026-10-08 · Mapping reviewed 2026-10-21. These dates are not individual browser-test or claim-verification dates. Unknown means the data does not establish support.