{"id":15752,"date":"2022-09-15T09:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T07:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/?p=15752"},"modified":"2023-11-30T19:09:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T18:09:33","slug":"internationalization-vs-localization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/","title":{"rendered":"Internationalization vs Localization: How They Differ, and Why You Need Both for Global Reach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_a32a5139a54b30c028b1cc076f081d6d\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) are 2 terms that product and development teams often encounter when creating software products for a global user base and tend to use them interchangeably. While closely related, internationalization and localization aren\u2019t one and the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/i18n-a-simple-definition\/#benefits-of-internationalizing-your-software-app-or-website\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aims to build globally-ready software that can easily adapt to any market&#8217;s cultural, linguistic, or legal requirements. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/10-common-mistakes-in-software-localization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> takes an internationalized product and adapts its contents (whether text, image, sound, or color) to maximize its chances of success in the target market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help you better understand the differences, this guide breaks down both internationalization and localization, shares examples and best practices\u2014and explains how their combined power can enable growing businesses to launch global products that create memorable customer experiences across markets.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Overview<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#internationalization-vs-localization-how-are-they-different\" title=\"Internationalization vs localization: How are they different?\">Internationalization vs localization: How are they different?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#what-is-internationalization-i18n\" title=\"What is internationalization (i18n)?\">What is internationalization (i18n)?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#why-is-software-internationalization-important\" title=\"Why is software internationalization important?\">Why is software internationalization important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#example-of-internationalization\" title=\"Example of internationalization\">Example of internationalization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#what-are-some-best-practices-for-internationalization\" title=\"What are some best practices for internationalization?\">What are some best practices for internationalization?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#what-is-localization-l10n\" title=\"What is localization (l10n)?\">What is localization (l10n)?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#how-does-localization-work\" title=\"How does localization work?\">How does localization work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#example-of-localization-done-right\" title=\"Example of localization done right\">Example of localization done right<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#localization-best-practices\" title=\"Localization best practices\">Localization best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/internationalization-vs-localization\/#internationalization-and-localization-are-critical-to-global-expansion\" title=\"Internationalization and localization are critical to global expansion\">Internationalization and localization are critical to global expansion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"internationalization-vs-localization-how-are-they-different\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization vs localization: How are they different?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization and localization are complementary phases of software design and development, often mistaken for one another, happening sequentially, and essential to plan from the get-go to give a software product a strong start in the global marketplace.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45295\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45295\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45295\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/globalization-process-layers.png\" alt=\"Business globalization process layers | Phrase\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/globalization-process-layers.png 1081w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/globalization-process-layers-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/globalization-process-layers-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/globalization-process-layers-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/globalization-process-layers-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45295\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Successfully expanding to global markets involves integrating internationalization and localization into product development<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s outline the main differences between internationalization and localization:<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 400px;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"height: 50px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 50px; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">Internationalization vs localization: Key differences<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 50px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 50px; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><strong>Internationalization<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 50px; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><strong>Localization<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p class=\"small\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization comes first\u2014aiming to make localization easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization is the process of developing a software application to support multiple languages and easily adapt to local market norms and preferences. Think of your software product as the apartment complex you, the real estate developer, are putting up for lease\u2014you\u2019re laying the supporting structure (including infrastructure and utilities) that the apartment building relies on. Internationalization is the foundation of a globally successful product.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization is the domain of software developers.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p class=\"small\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization always follows internationalization.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization involves adapting all elements of your global software to the needs and preferences of users in your target market\u2014from content and user interface (UI) to images, colors, and more. Going back to the apartment complex analogy, localization is similar to refining the facade of the building and all the amenities and equipment inside to attract prospective customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization is typically handled by professional linguists (e.g., translators, editors, or proofreaders), but it also involves designers, marketing specialists, copywriters, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-internationalization-i18n\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is internationalization (i18n)?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/i18n-a-simple-definition\/#benefits-of-internationalizing-your-software-app-or-website\"><b>Internationalization<\/b><\/a><b> is the process of designing software ready for adaptation to different regions, markets, and languages.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often abbreviated as \u201ci18n\u201d (where the number 18 represents the 18 letters between \u201ci\u201d and \u201cn\u201d), internationalization covers a set of software design principles and best practices for developers to follow to ensure the final product is able to support multiple languages and account for regional settings, preferences, and norms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-is-software-internationalization-important\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is software internationalization important?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization is an essential phase of software development\u2014it touches on core areas of the user experience (UX) developers want to create. Incorrectly internationalized product features can be a downright show-stopper, negatively affecting the functionality and usability of the software application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Without software internationalization, global expansion transforms into a time-consuming and costly endeavor\u2014and going back and reengineering the product to make it global-ready may no longer be an option in today\u2019s fast-paced, just-in-time world of agile software development.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, global expansion comes with a cost, but you can offset some by incorporating internationalization into the development process. With internationalization, the source code will be ready to support multi-lingual, multi-country expansion from the very start\u2014or whenever you press the global launch button\u2014and, crucially, you will afford yourself the benefit of time to strategize which market to go to next, focusing your effort where it matters.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"example-of-internationalization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example of internationalization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As established, an important aspect of internationalization is ensuring the software adapts to local preferences\u2014such as a user selecting a language from the available options in-app. This implies the app will be translated into the language and can dynamically display the content to match the user\u2019s choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sample JavaScript code below shows a possible usage scenario where the app retrieves the correct translation of a confirmation message (\u201cAre you sure?\u201d in English) based on the user\u2019s language (French in this example).<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-1\" data-shcb-language-name=\"JavaScript\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"javascript\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-javascript\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Assume that 't' is a function for translation<\/span>\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ English version<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">const<\/span> englishTranslations = {\n  <span class=\"hljs-attr\">confirmationMessage<\/span>: <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Are you sure?'<\/span>,\n  <span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Add more translations as needed<\/span>\n};\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ French version<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">const<\/span> frenchTranslations = {\n  <span class=\"hljs-attr\">confirmationMessage<\/span>: <span class=\"hljs-string\">'\u00cates-vous s\u00fbr ?'<\/span>,\n  <span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Add more translations as needed<\/span>\n};\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Function to get the translated text<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-function\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">function<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-title\">t<\/span>(<span class=\"hljs-params\">key, language<\/span>) <\/span>{\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">const<\/span> translations = language === <span class=\"hljs-string\">'en'<\/span> ? englishTranslations : language === <span class=\"hljs-string\">'fr'<\/span> ? frenchTranslations : {};\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">return<\/span> translations&#91;key] || key; <span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Return the translation or the key itself if not found<\/span>\n}\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Example usage in the dashboard<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">const<\/span> dashboardLanguage = <span class=\"hljs-string\">'en'<\/span>; <span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Assume this is dynamically set based on user preferences<\/span>\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">\/\/ Using internationalization for confirmation message<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">const<\/span> userConfirmed = confirm(t(<span class=\"hljs-string\">'confirmationMessage'<\/span>, dashboardLanguage))<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-1\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">JavaScript<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">javascript<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_66e55b2d66d42256ef3aa2b74216f232\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The original key, <code>confirmationMessage<\/code>, in English (\u201cAre you sure?), changes to the French equivalent (\u201c\u00cates-vous s\u00fbr ?\u201d) with the following bit of internationalized code:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><code>const userConfirmed = confirm(t('confirmationMessage', dashboardLanguage))<\/code><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-are-some-best-practices-for-internationalization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are some best practices for internationalization?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best practices for internationalization can be drawn into a handy, easy-to-follow checklist for developers:<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">Internationalization best practices: The developer\u2019s checklist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-style: none;\">\n<td style=\"width: 100%; background-color: #f4f4f4; border-style: none;\">\n<p class=\"small\">Use the correct character encoding (e.g., UTF-8) to facilitate multilingual support for the product.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\">Plan with text expansion for non-English languages for key CTAs or error message boxes (e.g., German words generally have a greater number of letters compared to English ones).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\">Determine your languages pairs\u2014different MT engines are more suitable for certain language pairs than others.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\">Separate translatable text from the source code or images.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\">Use separate resource files for anything requiring translation (e.g., titles, product names, error messages, etc.).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\">Avoid hard-coding numbers, units, dates, and times. A classic example is the US date formatting of MM\/DD\/YYYY, which may not be understood in other parts of the world and will require adapting to the local standard.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"small\">Mirror the user interface (UI) for right-to-left (RTL) languages like Arabic or Hebrew.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure id=\"attachment_70801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-70801\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70801 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Screen of Facebook's homepage in Arabic | Phrase\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-1024x493.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-768x370.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-1536x739.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/facebook-homepage-arabic-2048x986.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-70801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An example of Facebook&#8217;s user interface mirrored for Arabic audiences \u00a9 Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-localization-l10n\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is localization (l10n)?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/how-important-is-localization-for-your-business\/\"><b>Localization<\/b><\/a><b> is the process of adapting products or services to the culture and language of customers in different target markets.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually shortened to \u201cl10n\u201d (the number 10 represents the letters between \u201cl\u201d and \u201cn\u201d), localization goes beyond mere translation. Translation aims to accurately transfer words from one language to another, preserving the meaning of the original text. Localization goes a step further, adapting the entirety of a product to the cultural specifics of the target market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-does-localization-work\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does localization work?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launching a global product means more than just transferring it from one language to another. Depending on the nature of the product, there are different forms of localization, each with its standardized procedures and desired outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 60px;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"height: 50px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 100%; height: 50px;\" colspan=\"2\">Main localization types<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 50px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 31.4194%; height: 10px; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/software-localization\/\">Software localization<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.5806%; height: 10px;\">Adapting software to meet the linguistic, cultural, and functional requirements of a specific target market, ensuring a seamless user experience.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 31.4194%; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/9-steps-to-get-your-website-localization-started\/\">Website localization<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.5806%;\">Modifying a website&#8217;s content, design, and functionality to suit the preferences and expectations of users in a particular geographic region or cultural context.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 31.4194%; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/optimize-marketing-localization-process\/\">Marketing localization<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.5806%;\">Tailoring marketing materials, campaigns, and strategies to resonate with the cultural nuances and preferences of a specific target audience, enhancing engagement.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 31.4194%; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/product-localization\/\">Product localization<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.5806%;\">Customizing a product&#8217;s features, packaging, and presentation to align with the cultural and linguistic expectations of a particular market, optimizing its appeal and usability.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 31.4194%; background-color: #f4f4f4;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/\">Game localization<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.5806%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adapting video games to the linguistic, cultural, and regulatory requirements of different markets, providing an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience for diverse audiences.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization is a team effort involving experts from various fields\u2014linguists, terminologists, localization engineers, designers, language testers, etc. It follows a multistage workflow, leveraging both human skills and the latest technologies like translation management systems (TMS) or machine translation (MT)\u2014to name just a few key elements of the typical localization ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_74439cafb1e790953403a7bb5ca62262\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta bg--grey image--orientation-square\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"small subhead\" style=\"text-align: center;\">What is a translation management system?<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Learn what makes a translation management system and how it helps businesses seeking to expand globally translate content more quickly and efficiently.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/translation-management-system-how-it-works\/\">Explore TMS<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_2ab8e31fff7d33c94b5b3836016e7c5f\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"example-of-localization-done-right\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example of localization done right<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most successful global brands recognize the importance of tailoring the UX to align with the expectations of users in different markets. Put another way, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/app-localization-developers-guide-to-user-experience\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn\u2019t just about translating text on the screen. Visuals and colors are equally important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a look at the side-by-side view of the English and Japanese versions of Sony\u2019s website below to see how the company applies decades of experience in localization to craft a natural UX for its international audiences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The immediate takeaway is a pronounced contrast in information density between the <\/span><code><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.jp<\/span><\/code><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> website version on the right and the <\/span><code><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.com<\/span><\/code><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> version on the left. The Japanese website features many text-heavy images. This is because consumers in Japan and other Asian markets have a preference for content that is information-rich, while Western markets tend to lean towards a more minimalist visual design.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_70807\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-70807\" style=\"width: 1467px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70807 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sony-website-com-vs-jp.png\" alt=\"Screens of Sony's homepage in English and Japanese | Phrase\" width=\"1467\" height=\"1467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sony-website-com-vs-jp.png 1467w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sony-website-com-vs-jp-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sony-website-com-vs-jp-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sony-website-com-vs-jp-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sony-website-com-vs-jp-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1467px) 100vw, 1467px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-70807\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A side-by-side comparison of Sony&#8217;s English (.com) and Japanese localized websites reveals clear visual differences tailored to each audience&#8217;s preferences<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"localization-best-practices\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization best practices<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The holy grail for any product or service\u2014whether digital or physical\u2014is to continue expanding the user base and monetizing well into its lifetime. Localization is vital to unlock long-term growth opportunities on a global scale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are 5 tried-and-tested strategies that can maximize your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/get-your-money-back-optimizing-localization-roi\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization ROI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (return on investment) in the long run:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prioritize your markets and languages.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Different markets will have varying preferences for localized content\u2014and in some, companies can get away with English only. Similarly, not all content is created equal and will require different levels of attention. You don&#8217;t need to do everything at once with localization. Learn to prioritize.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Create an equitable customer experience.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You want to create the same seamless, natural user experience for non-English speakers as for those who speak English\u2014it\u2019s all about the end user.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Create content with localization in mind.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Cultivate a global-first mindset by including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/10-common-mistakes-in-software-localization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization best practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> early in the product design phase. This way, you avoid unnecessary rework and save time and money.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Listen to what the market says.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Work with local subject matter experts from sales or marketing in each market and tap into user data to guide and enhance your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/how-important-is-localization-for-your-business\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization strategy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b style=\"color: #505050; font-family: Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Noto Sans', 'Liberation Sans', Arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">Tech is your ally.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Localization works best when relying on technology to drive efficiencies and improve time to market. That\u2019s why it\u2019s a smart move to place a cloud-based translation management system at the heart of your localization endeavors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_6411e3a19cf73\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta bg--green image--orientation-landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image image--align-middle\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1260\" height=\"1159\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TMS_Hero-e1678895852531.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"Phrase TMS | Phrase\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TMS_Hero-e1678895852531.png 1260w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TMS_Hero-e1678895852531-300x276.png 300w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TMS_Hero-e1678895852531-1024x942.png 1024w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TMS_Hero-e1678895852531-768x706.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1260px) 100vw, 1260px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"subhead\">Phrase TMS<\/p>\n<p class=\"secondary h6\">The enterprise-ready translation management system<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\">Work with the leading TMS to automate translation workflows with cost control and quality checks.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/platform\/tms\/\">Explore Phrase TMS<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_e25e6e60e12d971785a126a9a5717510\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"internationalization-and-localization-are-critical-to-global-expansion\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization and localization are critical to global expansion<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Securing a stronghold in the domestic market is a solid goal for a young company. Still, as it evolves, the gaze naturally turns towards global horizons. Essential to this expansion journey are internationalization and localization\u20142 key players that set the stage for successful <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/globalization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">globalization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization prepares your product for efficient deployment across diverse markets. Localization guarantees a smooth user experience, making customers want to come back for more.<\/span><b> It&#8217;s the dream scenario for any company eyeing lasting success on the global stage.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-technology\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, internationalization and localization have become more straightforward and accessible, so choosing a technology partner that can support you on both fronts is the most reliable way to expand your reach, foster deeper connections, and drive global growth.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_8306d6ac11af7d60615f8f4c02cacb42\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-square\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"h4\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Speak with an expert<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Want to learn how our solutions can help you unlock global opportunity? We\u2019d be happy to show you around the Phrase Localization Platform and answer any questions you may have.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/demo\/\">Book a call<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Internationalization and localization are often confused to be the same. Let\u2019s see how they differ and why both are important for global expansion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":61522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"class_list":["post-15752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-localization-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15752"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15752"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71480,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15752\/revisions\/71480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}