Mirroring applies to layout and direction, not every graphic

What it is

Selective RTL mirroring reverses relationships that depend on reading direction while preserving graphics whose meaning is direction-independent. Navigation origin, item order, alignment, and spatial mappings of “next” and “previous” often follow writing direction. Logos, photographs, maps, clock faces, and depictions of real objects do not become mirror images merely because the interface is Arabic or Hebrew.

Why it happens

The decision depends on the semantic frame of reference, not visual appearance. Reading sequence, interface hierarchy, and relative navigation use logical directions and should map to inline start and end. Real-world orientation, an object's intrinsic handedness, and text embedded in imagery use an external frame; flipping them changes facts or recognition. Applying one geometric transform to the whole interface conflates these frames.

Where it stops holding

Mirroring expectations vary with platform and domain conventions, and mixed-language content complicates them. Chart time axes, media controls, maps, and game spaces may follow established domain directions rather than page language alone. Inline ordering of bidirectional text belongs to the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm; layout mirroring is not a substitute.

Applying it

• Express placement with logical start/end properties rather than hard-coded left/right coordinates.
• Classify assets by semantics: mirror with direction, preserve, or decide from context; never flip an entire page indiscriminately.
• Test real RTL copy for reading order, focus order, alignment, and back navigation while confirming that logos, photos, and physical orientation remain intact.
• Ask target-language users to perform forward, back, and locate tasks; wrong turns and directional hesitation reveal incorrect classifications.

Related

• Same group: S1.02.2 Icons expressing time and progress need mirroring · S1.02.3 Icons with physical direction should not be mirrored · S1.02.4 Numbers and Latin-script runs remain left-to-right inline · S1.02.5 Motion and gesture directions must be mirrored together
• Adjacent: S4.03 Multilingual testing and pseudolocalization · G1.03 Navigation direction and back relationships
• Search terms: RTL mirroring · logical properties · bidirectional interface