Which is the best way to handle RTL CSS - html

Question

Right now I'm working on a bilingual website and kinda confuse about how to handle the RTL CSS codes. I have 2 things in my mind as follows;
1. Single CSS file - Overriding LTR default codes.
.content {
position: relative;
padding: 5px 10px 5px 240px;
}
.rtl .content {
padding-right: 240px;
padding-left: 10px;
}
2. Single CSS file - Without overiding
.content {
position: relative;
padding-top: 5px;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
.ltr .content {
padding-left: 240px;
padding-right: 10px;
}
.rtl .content {
padding-right: 240px;
padding-left: 10px;
}
Using the first method, there will a lot of overrides. Also using the second method there will be a lot of codes in the css file. I know both will do the trick but curious to know which is the best method. Kindly suggest me if there is another method too.

Answer 1

If you are looking for a more robust solution, I would suggest you these approaches:
CSS Preprocessor
Learn and use a CSS preprocessor like LESS (if necessary, use a plugin like Bi-App-Less) and conditionally add the correct stylesheet.
Back-end controlled variable
Use CSS mixed with some back-end variable like:
direction: <%=rtl%>;
padding-<%=right%>: 10px;
padding-<%=left%>: 240px;.
RTL Tool
Use a RTLer tool.

Answer 2

CSS can display your text right to left with this:
.rtl
{
direction:rtl;
}
I prefer to handle padding and margins on a single line:
.content {
position: relative;
padding:5px 10px 5px 240px;
}
.rtl .content {
padding:0 240px 0 10px;
}

Answer 3

You could try doing something like this
.content {
width: 500px;
padding: 5px 10px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
.content.rtl {
float: right;
direction: rtl;
}
try to hardcode the minimum amount of paddings/margins specific to a direction, heres an example http://jsfiddle.net/icodeforlove/UNS5L/