<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 13.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 13.0.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 13.0.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.15.0 -",
    "tvOS: 13.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -",
    "watchOS: 6.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "SwiftUI",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/SwiftUI/LayoutDirection",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Enumeration",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Enumeration",
    "modules" : [
      "SwiftUI"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "s:7SwiftUI15LayoutDirectionO"
  },
  "title" : "LayoutDirection"
}
-->

# LayoutDirection

A direction in which SwiftUI can lay out content.

```
enum LayoutDirection
```

## Overview

SwiftUI supports both left-to-right and right-to-left directions
for laying out content to support different languages and locales.
The system sets the value based on the user’s locale, but
you can also use the [`environment(_:_:)`](/documentation/SwiftUI/View/environment(_:_:)) modifier
to override the direction for a view and its child views:

```
MyView()
    .environment(\.layoutDirection, .rightToLeft)
```

You can also read the [`layoutDirection`](/documentation/SwiftUI/EnvironmentValues/layoutDirection) environment
value to find out which direction applies to a particular environment.
However, in many cases, you don’t need to take any action based on this
value. SwiftUI horizontally flips the x position of each view within its
parent, so layout calculations automatically produce the desired effect
for both modes without any changes.

## Topics

### Getting layout directions

[`LayoutDirection.leftToRight`](/documentation/SwiftUI/LayoutDirection/leftToRight)

A left-to-right layout direction.

[`LayoutDirection.rightToLeft`](/documentation/SwiftUI/LayoutDirection/rightToLeft)

A right-to-left layout direction.

### Creating a layout direction

[`init(_:)`](/documentation/SwiftUI/LayoutDirection/init(_:))

Create a direction from its UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirection equivalent.



---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)