Localization vs. internationalization (l10n vs. i18n)

Effective globalization requires internationalization and localization. These related but distinct processes help businesses adapt their services and products to global markets. If your company is seeking to expand into international markets that speak different languages, you must consider both to scale successfully. Internationalization ensures products, services, and content are globally adaptable from the start. Localization makes products feel native and natural to users in each target market.

To use them effectively, you’ll need to understand how they work in the context of a global business. Companies have several processes that need to be internationalized and localized. When done right, the rewards include faster market entry and stronger customer loyalty.

This guide will compare localization versus internationalization to help you understand when and how to use each correctly.

What is internationalization?

I18n, meaning internationalization, is a process that prepares content, products, or software to easily adapt to various languages, cultures, and regions. This process may include:

• Structuring websites to support multiple languages and regional formats
• Developing global marketing campaigns that are adaptable for various regions
• Preparing legal documents, contracts, and policies in compliance with international laws
• Designing employee courses and assessments to accommodate different languages and educational standards

Internationalization often entails design flexibility that allows for a custom or modular approach. For example, a global company’s internationalized employee training videos should be easily localized for offices in other countries with subtitles or voiceovers and adjusted scenarios for cultural relevance.

An expanding company’s software and websites are prime candidates for i18n. Here are some benefits of internationalizing your software:

• Faster global expansion: When software is built with international markets in mind, it’s much quicker and cheaper to launch in new countries. The groundwork is already in place.
• Improved customer experience: People are more likely to trust and use products that feel familiar. If your app or website features a familiar language, currency, and design, customers will feel like it was made just for them.
• Easier compliance with local regulations: Internationalized software is easily adapted to meet local data privacy laws, accessibility standards, and legal requirements, reducing compliance risks and avoiding costly legal issues.

How to approach i18n

Internationalization doesn’t need to be complicated. Although it requires technical experience, global companies can achieve it in a few simple steps. Here are a few ways to implement internationalization in your software:

• Keep text flexible and easy to translate: Instead of hardcoding text directly into the software, store it in a separate file. This makes it easier to translate without changing the software.
• Design for different languages and cultures: Ensure the design can handle longer words or different text directions (such as Arabic, which reads right to left).
• Automatically adjust for local preferences: The software should automatically show the correct date, time, currency, and number formats based on the user’s location. For example, a price might show as $10.00 in the U.S. but €9,70 in Europe.

What is localization?

L10n, commonly known as localization, is the process of adapting a product, content, or service to meet the specific language, culture, and regional preferences of a particular market. It’s the process that internationalization prepares you for.

In software and websites, this means translating website text with the help of native speakers, using images that reflect local culture, and adjusting content for global SEO reach. It can also include formatting dates, times, and currencies to match local preferences. This makes the software feel natural and intuitive for local users.

Let’s take a weather app as an example. For users in the U.S., the localized app will show the temperature in Fahrenheit and use miles per hour for wind speed. European users will automatically be shown Celsius and kilometers per hour. This small change makes the app localized and user-friendly in different locales.

How to approach l10n

Consider the following when localizing your software:

• Plan for localization early in development: Localization requires you to design your software with flexibility in mind. This is when internationalization comes in handy.
• Work with first-language experts: Use professional translators or native speakers to ensure translations are accurate and culturally appropriate. You’ll avoid miscommunications and build trust with users.
• Test with local users: Before launching in a new market, test the product with a small batch of local users to catch any cultural or functional issues. This pre-empts large-scale mistakes and leads to a smooth and natural user experience.

Comparing l10n vs. i18n

A company needs a globalization (g11n) strategy when entering international markets. Localization and internationalization are a part of this globalization strategy; they work together to make g11n possible. However, there are some key differences between the l10n and i18n, which are often confused. This list breaks down the differences between localization and internationalization:

Internationalization is the first step when a company goes global. It precedes localization, laying a foundation that makes l10n faster, easier, and more cost-effective. By internationalizing software, services, or websites, you can easily adapt them to different countries and cultures.

For example, a clothing brand that wants to sell products worldwide must internationalize its website. This means designing it to automatically localize based on a user’s region. I18n may include encoding it with flexible layouts and Unicode to handle multiple languages, setting up systems for various currencies and time formats, and making sure product sizes can be shown in U.S., U.K., and European sizing. Once internationalization is complete, localization can begin.

Localization includes translating text, changing images, and adjusting date and currency formats to the specific market you are trying to enter. If your website was originally in English and you’re trying to enter the Brazilian market, you may choose to translate your website into Portuguese.

Both processes are essential. Without internationalization, companies may face expensive fixes and technical problems when expanding. Without localization and proper translation, businesses risk confusing or offending customers, leading to lost sales and poor brand reputation.

Build and transform software with Smartling’s expertise

When companies expand beyond their domestic borders, they open up new markets, new customers, and the potential to scale into a global brand. Internationalization prepares a product to work anywhere, and localization makes it feel familiar and comfortable for local users. Together, software internationalization and localization create a smooth user experience that connects with customers in different markets.

Businesses that get it right the first time will scale faster and avoid costly mistakes. With Smartling’s best-in-class Translation Management System (TMS), you can easily translate your content and software through our pre-built integrations, custom APIs, and robust translation solutions. With translation management all in one place, you can get accurate, localized content to market faster, scaling your business with ease.

Ready to take your localization efforts to the next level? Download our free eBook, “10 Strategies to Boost Translation Efficiency,” to learn how you can leverage automation, the right translation mix, and data-driven decisions to reach more of the world with your existing budget.