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JavaScript is the most used programming language among developers in the world. Its applications range from websites, game engines, the Internet of Things, and mobile frameworks, just to name a few, so the digital presence of the majority of businesses is created through JavaScript in one way or another.
But even though it’s incredibly convenient, JavaScript is only useful if it can be conveniently applied in different contexts and languages. And the good news is that the process of localization is relatively simple when using JavaScript. In just a few steps, you can ensure that every script you have will run and display consistently in different languages, providing a superior experience to your users. And with the many benefits of localization, you can’t afford to not take into account the needs of your local audiences.
Let’s look at the most important steps you should consider below when localizing your pages, allowing the user to select a language that they want to use.
Consider if You Need JavaScript Internationalization (i18n)
Before you begin the process of JavaScript localization, the first step is to figure out whether you need to utilize the JavaScript internationalization (i18n) library, which can make the localization process more standardized and easy to follow.
However, since the installation can be a separate task in itself, you may not need to go with the i18n library at all. For some of the smaller projects, you can use the default JavaScript, which will provide you with more flexibility while still maintaining the option of using i18n techniques in your project.
Insert i18n Attributes Into a Page
When you have a website page in JavaScript, it will probably be hard-coded in English, which means you will need to address that before you can add new languages. But the good news is that even if you don’t go with the entire i18n library, you can still implement attributes that will allow you to mimic its functionality in ways that you need it to.
For instance, you can add a data-i18n-key attribute in your text containers, creating the option of replacing the text with translations to various languages as it loads automatically.
Then, you can simply set up scripts to replace the text with translations automatically, which will show in the selected language without the user having to do anything else. To test if it works, replace the “en” locale with the different language you want to see, and refresh the page to show you the most recent changes.
If you don’t mind creating additional locales for each translation you want to add, this is a very useful method to consider. But there are more efficient ways of approaching the situation, especially if you want to scale your localization efforts and have more flexibility.
Split Translations Into Multiple Pre-Locale Files
When you want a more scalable option for JavaScript localization, you can use an asynchronous method that would allow you to load the translation files without the need to load other locales with it.
For this, you will need to utilize JSON files, where you should place the translations of your text for every translation locale you want to add. Then, you will need to set up the script so that it doesn’t load every locale at once and instead fetches them as necessary.
Use the i18n Switcher Attribute to Create a Language-Switching Option
You want to provide your users with the ability to choose the language they prefer to view the page in. And that requires you to work in a dropdown menu option that enables them to change languages and get the right text to be displayed.
For this, you will need to utilize a simple navigation bar and a data-i18n-switcher attribute, allowing the user to select which locale should be fetched.
Alternatively, you can also select the locale based on the locale of the browser, which would automatically show the user the content in the language they are using.
Bottom Line
Setting up localization with JavaScript can seem tricky, but it’s actually a relatively simple process if you utilize the convenient tools and attributes that JavaScript comes with.
The article above explored how you can set up multiple languages on your web pages in a few simple steps, which you can set up in a couple of different ways depending on how scalable you want the localization to be.
You may also like: Why TypeScript in Node Js Is A Great Choice
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