localizedName

LocalizedName is a field used in software data models to store the human-readable name of an object in a specific language. It supports multilingual user interfaces and content catalogs by providing translations that reflect the user’s locale, separate from technical identifiers.

Across systems, localizedName may be a single string representing the name in the current user locale, or a map/dictionary of locale codes to strings (for example en, fr, es). In some architectures, localization is handled by separate translation resources, and the appropriate localizedName is selected at runtime based on the user’s locale.

LocalizedName is distinct from fields such as name and displayName. The name often serves as a stable, technical or canonical identifier, while displayName is a user-facing label that may or may not be localized. LocalizedName specifically emphasizes providing translations for the exact textual name in different languages, making it a common choice for items, UI elements, and content items in multilingual applications.

Implementation considerations include adhering to locale codes that follow standards such as BCP 47, defining fallback rules when a translation is missing, and ensuring character encoding is UTF-8. Designers should consider caching, performance, and accessibility implications, as well as potential complexities like pluralization, gender, or style variations in some languages.

Example usage: an item could have an id and a localizedName map with entries like "en":"Sword" and "fr":"Épée"; a client selects the string matching the current locale. See also localization and internationalization.