---
title: kUnicodeDefaultDirectionMask
framework: Core Services
role: symbol
role_heading: Enumeration Case
platforms: [Mac Catalyst 17.0+, macOS 10.0+]
path: coreservices/1433620-directionality_masks/kunicodedefaultdirectionmask
---

# kUnicodeDefaultDirectionMask

## Declaration

```occ
kUnicodeDefaultDirectionMask = kUnicodeDefaultDirection << kUnicodeDirectionalityBits
```

## Discussion

Discussion A mask for setting the global, or base, line direction for the text being converted. The value kUnicodeDefaultDirectionMask tells the converter to use the value of the first strong direction character in the string. This determines which direction the converter should use for resolution of neutral coded characters, such as spaces that occur between sets of coded characters having different directions—for example, between Latin and Arabic characters—rendering ambiguous the direction of the space character.