Images, pictures, and colors that contain cultural and country-based elements.Text, including user instructions, terms and conditions, FAQs, text within graphics, etc.with hard-coded language replaced by ‘calls’ that automatically retrieve text in the user’s native language, whatever it may be.įollowing the internationalization stage, several elements of the app are recreated to such an extent that a user will assume they were developed originally in their own language. The coding is then re-designed to be language-independent-i.e. Internationalization, often referred to as ‘i18n’, is the preparatory work that distinguishes text and other user-facing content from the app’s coding. Localizing everything from the app’s terminology and cultural references to its audio-visual content and user experience (UX) requires an initial stage called ‘ internationalization’. What is app localization?Īpp localization is the process of adapting every element of your app to suit the cultural, linguistic, and technical requirements of each of your target markets. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about app localization, including why it’s important, and how to solve the most common localization challenges. Instead, you recreate apps for native speakers in multiple languages, which means every detail-from currency to cultural nuances, units of measurement to user-friendliness-feels tailor-made for them. That’s why you can’t think about ‘translating’ apps into what users will inevitably feel is a sub-standard version of the original. When developing a new app, you need a plan for how to scale it globally, assess who it’s for, and create something that’s relevant to all potential users.Īpps are all about universality and ease of use, so nothing should tie it down to one specific language or location. Your app has to be able to travel far and wide while providing an equally amazing experience to anyone who might use it. It’s because the saga contains themes that apply to anyone, regardless of geographic location and cultural differences. Star Wars wasn’t a global success because the movies were translated into most of the world’s languages.

Android studio language translation