ECMA-364

What does ECMA-364 mean?

ECMA-364, also known as Unicode Standard Annex #15 (Unicode Technical Standard #15, or UTS #15), is a technical standard that defines the handling of bidirectional text in Unicode. Bidirectional text is text that contains characters written from right to Left (such as Arabic or Hebrew) and characters written from left to right (such as English or Latin). ECMA-364 specifies how to correctly display, Store, and Process bidirectional text so that it is rendered correctly and consistently across different platforms and applications.

The standard addresses various aspects of bidirectional text handling, including:

• Character directionality: Defines whether a character is written from right to left or left to right.
• Text directionality: Determines the overall directionality of a text block, which can be from right to left, left to right, or mixed.
• Bidirectional algorithms: Provides rules for handling text when characters with different directionalities are combined.

ECMA-364 is a fundamental standard for handling bidirectional text in Unicode and is widely adopted in software, browsers, and operating systems to ensure the correct display and interoperability of multilingual content.

Applications

ECMA-364 is essential in technology today due to the increasing globalization and the widespread use of multilingual content. It plays a crucial role in various applications, including:

• Web browsing: Allows browsers to correctly display web pages containing bidirectional text, ensuring proper layout and readability for users worldwide.
• Operating systems: Provides a standardized way to handle bidirectional text in user interfaces, file systems, and other components of an operating system.
• Document processing: Enables word processors, text editors, and other document processing software to correctly handle bidirectional text and produce visually appealing documents.
• Localization: Supports the localization of software and content for different languages, ensuring that products are adapted to the specific cultural and linguistic requirements of users.
• Multilingual communication: Facilitates seamless communication between users who use different writing systems, Enabling email, messaging, and collaboration tools to handle bidirectional text effectively.

By providing a common framework for handling bidirectional text, ECMA-364 enables the seamless exchange and display of multilingual content in a variety of digital environments.

History

ECMA-364 was originally developed by the Unicode Consortium and first published in 1998. It was later adopted by the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) as ECMA-364 in 2006. Over the years, the standard has undergone several revisions to address evolving requirements and improve its effectiveness.

The development of ECMA-364 was driven by the need for a comprehensive and standardized way to handle bidirectional text in Unicode. Prior to the standard, there was considerable inconsistency in how different software and systems handled bidirectional text, leading to display errors and interoperability issues.

The initial version of ECMA-364 defined the basic principles and algorithms for handling bidirectional text. Subsequent revisions have expanded the scope of the standard to cover additional aspects, such as bidirectional text in Markup languages (e.g., HTML), embedded line directionality markings, and improved handling of complex text layouts.

ECMA-364 has become a widely accepted and adopted standard in the technology industry. Its implementation in software and systems has significantly improved the handling of bidirectional text and enhanced the user experience for multilingual content.