Some themes center text paragraphs between the left and right placeholder borders.

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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:

• Using the keyword values start, end, left, right, center, justify, justify-all, or match-parent.
• Using a <string> value only, in which case the other value defaults to right.
• Using both a keyword value and a <string> value.

Values

start

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

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

The inline contents are aligned to the left edge of the line box.

The inline contents are aligned to the right edge of the line box.

The inline contents are centered within the line box.

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.

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

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.

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.

• MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 1.4 explanations
• Understanding Success Criterion 1.4.8 | Understanding WCAG 2.0

Formal definition

Formal syntax

text-align = 
  start         |
  end           |
  left          |
  right         |
  center        |
  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;
}

Result

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;
}

Result

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;
}

Result

See also