Right to left

On this page5 sections

Text alignment

Adjust text alignment to match the interface direction, if the system doesn’t do so automatically.

Align a paragraph based on its language, not on the current context.

Use a consistent alignment for all text items in a list.

Numbers and characters

Don’t reverse the order of numerals in a specific number.

Reverse the order of numerals that show progress or a counting direction; never flip the numerals themselves.

Controls

Flip controls that show progress from one value to another.

Flip controls that help people navigate or access items in a fixed order.

Preserve the direction of a control that refers to an actual direction or points to an onscreen area.

Visually balance adjacent Latin and RTL scripts when necessary.

Images

Avoid flipping images like photographs, illustrations, and general artwork.

Reverse the positions of images when their order is meaningful.

Interface icons

Flip interface icons that represent text or reading direction.

Consider creating a localized version of an interface icon that displays text.

Flip an interface icon that shows forward or backward motion.

Don’t flip logos or universal signs and marks.

In general, avoid flipping interface icons that depict real-world objects.

Before merely flipping a complex custom interface icon, consider its individual components and the overall visual balance.


For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/right-to-left

Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc. This page is a structured index of Apple’s canonical documentation (snapshot 2025-02-02), provided for quick reference and AI-agent consumption — it isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Apple. Read the original at developer.apple.com (opens in new tab).

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