css properties 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.

Syntax

/* 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:

Values

start

The same as left if direction is left-to-right and right if direction is right-to-left.

end

The same as right if direction is left-to-right and left 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

Same as justify, but also forces the last line to be justified.

match-parent

Similar to inherit, but the values start and end are calculated according to the parent's direction and are replaced by the appropriate left or right value.

<string>

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 valuestart
Applies toblock containers
Inheritedyes
Computed valuesee individual properties
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

start | end | left | right | center | <string> | justify | match-parent | justify-all

Examples

Start alignment

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

.example {
  text-align: start;
  border: solid;
}

Centered text

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

.example {
  text-align: center;
  border: solid;
}

Example using "justify"

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

.example {
  text-align: justify;
  border: solid;
}

See also