Localization

Localization is the process of adapting a product or content to meet the language, cultural, regulatory, and other requirements of a specific target market. It goes beyond mere translation to ensure the product feels native to local users and aligns with local conventions and expectations. In practice, localization is often abbreviated L10n, while preparation for localization is called internationalization (i18n).

Scope includes translating user interface text, help and documentation, messages and error codes; adapting UI layout for text expansion, right-to-left scripts; formatting of dates, times, numbers, currencies, addresses, and units; adapting imagery, colors, and cultural references; and ensuring legal and accessibility compliance.

Process: internationalization provides a codebase and content that can be localized without changes to core logic; localization involves extracting text, translating and reviewing content, performing linguistic and functional quality assurance, and integrating translations back into products. Pseudolocalization is sometimes used to detect issues early.

Domains commonly addressed by localization include software applications, mobile apps, websites, video games, consumer electronics, and documentation or marketing materials.

Challenges include tone and humor translation, cultural sensitivities, differing regulatory requirements, licensing and copyright compliance, privacy restrictions, and handling complex pluralization and grammar rules. Technical challenges encompass encoding, fonts, and accessibility; performance and string length constraints can also arise.

Tools and standards: localization relies on translation management systems and computer-assisted translation tools, terminology management, Unicode for character encoding, CLDR for locale data, ICU libraries, and open data formats such as JSON and XML. Localization workflows often use translation memory and glossaries, and teams may include developers, translators, project managers, and testers.