Computer Programming

How do I use and implement the `lang` and `dir` attributes in `<td class="sd">Sindhi Text</td>`? Is it necessary to use a `span` element for this purpose? What is the right way to use the `lang` and `dir` attributes according to w3.org? Which elements/tags, like block and inline elements, support the `lang` and `dir` attributes?

2 Answers
2 answers

How do I use and implement the `lang` and `dir` attributes in `<td class="sd">Sindhi Text</td>`? Is it necessary to use a `span` element for this purpose? What is the right way to use the `lang` and `dir` attributes according to w3.org? Which elements/tags, like block and inline elements, support the `lang` and `dir` attributes?

1
Both dir and lang attributes are supported in inline and block elements.
So you can use it on span as well as div, td, tr, etc.

For better structuring of your content, it's recommended that you use the dir attribute on block elements.

To see how the dir element is applied on table, see following link:
Wrote answer · 3/9/2022
Karma · 1435
0

Here's how to use the lang and dir attributes with HTML elements, specifically focusing on the <td> element and Sindhi text:

1. Using the lang and dir Attributes:

  • lang Attribute: Specifies the language of the element's content. For Sindhi, the language code is "sd".
  • dir Attribute: Specifies the text direction. Sindhi is typically written right-to-left, so you would use "rtl" (right-to-left).

Here's how you would apply these attributes to your <td> element:

<td class="sd" lang="sd" >سنڌي لکائي</td>
 

In this example:

  • lang="sd" indicates that the content is in Sindhi.
  • specifies that the text direction should be right-to-left.

2. Is a <span> Element Necessary?

No, a <span> element is not strictly necessary if the entire content of the <td> element is Sindhi text. You can apply the lang and dir attributes directly to the <td> element itself.

However, a <span> element is useful when you have a mix of languages or text directions within the same <td> element. For example:

<td>This is some English text and then <span lang="sd" >سنڌي لکائي</span> some Sindhi text.</td>
 

In this case, the <span> element allows you to apply the lang and dir attributes only to the Sindhi portion of the text.

3. The Right Way According to W3.org:

According to the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium), the lang attribute should be used to identify the language of the content. The dir attribute should be used to specify the direction of text.

Here are some key points from W3C:

It's best practice to declare the language at the <html> tag level to set the default language for the entire document:

<html lang="sd" >
  <head>
  ...
  </head>
  <body>
  ...
  </body>
 </html>
 

Then, use the lang attribute on specific elements only when you need to override the default language.

4. Elements/Tags That Support the lang and dir Attributes:

The lang and dir attributes are global attributes, meaning they can be used on almost all HTML elements, both block-level and inline elements.

  • Block-Level Elements: Examples include <div>, <p>, <h1> - <h6>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <table>, <tr>, <td>, <form>, etc.
  • Inline Elements: Examples include <span>, <a>, <em>, <strong>, <br>, <input>, <textarea>, etc.

Essentially, you can use lang and dir on any element where it makes semantic sense to specify the language or text direction of its content.


Wrote answer · 3/14/2025
Karma · 40

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