text-justify

The text-justify CSS property sets what type of justification should be applied to text when text-align: justify; is set on an element.

Syntax

text-justify: none;
text-justify: auto;
text-justify: inter-word;
text-justify: inter-character;
text-justify: distribute; /* Deprecated value */

/* Global values */
text-justify: inherit;
text-justify: initial;
text-justify: revert;
text-justify: unset;

Values

none

The text justification is turned off. This has the same effect as not setting text-align at all, although it is useful if you need to turn justification on and off for some reason.

auto

The browser chooses the best type of justification for the current situation based on a balance between performance and quality, but also on what is most appropriate for the language of the text (e.g., English, CJK languages, etc.). This is the default justification used if text-justify is not set at all.

inter-word

The text is justified by adding space between words (effectively varying word-spacing), which is most appropriate for languages that separate words using spaces, like English or Korean.

inter-character

The text is justified by adding space between characters (effectively varying letter-spacing), which is most appropriate for languages like Japanese.

distribute

Exhibits the same behavior as inter-character; this value is kept for backwards compatibility.

Formal definition

Initial value auto
Applies to inline-level and table-cell elements
Inherited yes
Computed value as specified
Animation type discrete

Formal syntax

auto | inter-character | inter-word | none

Examples

Demonstration of the different values of text-justify

p {
  font-size: 1.5em;
  border: 1px solid black;
  padding: 10px;
  width: 95%;
  margin: 10px auto;
  text-align: justify;
}

.none {
  text-justify: none;
}

.auto {
  text-justify: auto;
}

.dist {
  text-justify: distribute;
}

.word {
  text-justify: inter-word;
}

.char {
  text-justify: inter-character;
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
text-justify
32
inter-word and distribute (deprecated) values are supported, but distribute behavior is buggy.
12
Standard values inter-character and none are supported. The deprecated distribute value is also supported.
55
11
Standard values inter-character and none are supported. The deprecated distribute value is also supported.
19
inter-word and distribute (deprecated) values are supported, but distribute behavior is buggy.
No
No
32
inter-word and distribute (deprecated) values are supported, but distribute behavior is buggy.
55
19
inter-word and distribute (deprecated) values are supported, but distribute behavior is buggy.
No
No

See also

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Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/text-justify