localització

Localització is a Catalan term with multiple related meanings centered on position and adaptation. In its most fundamental sense, it denotes the act or result of determining the position of something—its geographical location or place. In geography and cartography, localització involves identifying, describing, and representing where a feature lies, using coordinates (latitude and longitude), maps, and geographic information systems (GIS). It underpins navigation, urban planning, logistics, and emergency response.

In a technological and commercial context, localització is closely associated with localization: the process of adapting a product or service to a specific locale or market. This includes translating user interfaces and help content, as well as adapting date and time formats, number and currency conventions, measurement units, legal and cultural requirements, and local content. Localization is usually contrasted with internationalització (internationalization), which prepares products to support localization.

The localization workflow typically involves linguistic translation, software engineering to manage locale data (locales, resource files), and testing and quality assurance. Standards and codes, such as locale identifiers (language_country), ISO country codes, and formatting conventions (dates, currencies), facilitate consistent localization across platforms and regions.

Localització affects sectors like e-commerce, media, and tourism, where accurately reflecting local languages (for example, Catalan, Spanish, English), currencies, and regulatory norms enhances usability, accessibility, and compliance.