Supporting several languages.
WHAT INTERNATIONALISATION MEANS
Building so that translation is possible.
WHAT LOCALISATION MEANS
Providing the translations and regional formats.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Remove hard-coded text from components.
WHAT TO USE
Keys referencing translated strings.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Build sentences by joining fragments.
WHY
Word order differs between languages, and the result is incoherent.
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD
Complete messages with placeholders.
WHAT ELSE DIFFERS BY LOCALE
Date and number formats Currency Plural rules, which vary considerably Text direction Name and address formats
WHAT TO ACCOUNT FOR IN LAYOUT
Text expanding, frequently substantially.
WHAT THAT MEANS
Fixed-width elements break.
WHAT TO CONSIDER LOCALLY
Whether your audience needs anything beyond English, and whether regional formats are set correctly.
WHAT TO TEST
The interface with the longest translations available.
WHAT TO CHECK
That the declared document language is correct.
