Certain scripts, such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Adlam, present unique challenges due to their bidirectional nature. These scripts are written horizontally, with text generally flowing right-to-left; however digits, acronyms, and words in the Latin script flow left-to-right. This bidirectional text, or “bidi” for short, can be the source of some complexity for implementers and authors. Handling these intricacies is essential for ensuring proper text display and readability across various platforms. 

Unicode’s first webinar on bidirectional text was an introduction to the challenges faced by users and developers when handling bidi text in browsers and other software. Richard Ishida and Roozbeh Pournader covered the fundamental concepts of bidi text management, providing practical examples to illustrate key points. Participants had the opportunity to engage in a live question-and-answer session, allowing them to seek clarification and additional guidance on specific issues. 

At the second bidi event in August 2024, Adil Allawi, Ayman Aldahleh, and Roozbeh Pournader shared valuable insights focused on user interface (UI) considerations. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss challenges they faced while implementing bidi text. Participants appreciated the specific and detailed guidance offered during the session. 

For those who missed the live events or wish to review the content, recordings of the webinars are available on the Unicode YouTube Channel here. 

A third bidi virtual session will be offered in early 2025 focusing on bidi for localizers and translators. Interested individuals can sign up to get updates on news and events or bookmark the events section of the Unicode website. 

About the Unicode Consortium 

The Unicode Consortium is the premier non-profit open source, open standards body for the internationalization of all software and services. 

For more than 30 years, the Unicode Consortium has coordinated the efforts of a worldwide team of volunteer programmers and linguists to standardize, evolve, and maintain a global software foundation that allows virtually every computer system and service to help people connect using their native language.

Support for Unicode is provided through organizational and individual membership and its Adopt-a-Character program. For additional information, visit home.unicode.org. 

Unicode Resources 

• Unicode Technical Quick Start Guide: https://home.unicode.org/technical-quick-start-guide/

• Unicode YouTube Playlist – Overview of Internationalization and Unicode Projects: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMc927ywQmTNQrscw7yvaJbAbMJDIjeBh