Glossary / RTL
What is RTL?
right-to-left
RTL (right-to-left) describes languages written from right to left, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Urdu, and the way apps and websites mirror their layout to suit them.
Supporting RTL is more than translating text. The whole layout flips: menus open from the right, back arrows point the other way, progress bars fill from the right, and text lines up on the right edge.
Some things should not flip, such as phone numbers, most numerals, logos, and media controls. Mixed content, like an English product name inside an Arabic sentence, also needs care so punctuation lands in the right place.
Modern web code handles much of this with a direction setting on the page and layout rules that say "start" and "end" instead of "left" and "right". Fonts matter too: Arabic text needs a font designed for it.
Mythex builds apps in Arabic with right-to-left layout when you ask for it.
Examples
- A booking site with Arabic and English versions
- A dashboard whose sidebar moves to the right in Arabic
Questions
Can one app support both Arabic and English?
Yes. The app switches language and direction together, so the layout mirrors when a user picks Arabic. Plan for it from the start; adding it later touches every screen.
Do numbers flip in RTL?
No. Numbers keep their order even inside right-to-left text, and many Arabic apps use Western digits. Test prices, dates and phone numbers carefully.