Many things are utilised by people who live far away from where they were first manufactured. Websites, tools, and mobile apps frequently need to function across multiple languages and cultural contexts. In order to make it happen, lives must be changed, not just words. Internationalisation and localisation are two distinct processes.
Despite their apparent similarities, these two steps are not the same. Each has its own role. When combined, they make products easier to use for everyone.
First Step: Internationalization
Internationalization happens when the product is still being built. The goal is to make it open to change later.
Developers avoid putting fixed words in the code. Instead, they create placeholders and keep the real text in separate files. This allows them to change languages without needing to use the code.
They also make space in designs for longer or shorter words. They allow numbers, dates, and money to follow any format. Even right-to-left writing is possible when planned early.
This work keeps the product neutral. It does not belong to any one culture yet, but it is ready for all.
Second Step: Localization
Localization happens after the product is ready to adapt. Here, the product is made to fit one specific place.
Text is translated into the right language. Numbers, dates, and money are shown in the local way. Images and symbols are checked to make sure they feel familiar. Sometimes, even the style of writing is adjusted.
The aim is to make the product feel natural in that market. It should not feel foreign or forced.
Why They Work Better Together
Some companies skip internationalization and jump straight to localization. This can cause problems.
For example, if the code has fixed English words, you must rewrite it to change the language. Or if the design only works left-to-right, it might break when used in Arabic.
Internationalization avoids these problems by preparing ahead. Localization then uses that preparation to shape the product for each audience.
Without internationalization, localization becomes slow and costly. Without localization, the product stays generic and distant. Both are needed.
An Easy Example
Imagine a greeting on an app.
If the app is not internationalized, the code says “Welcome” directly. To show Spanish, a developer must change the code to say “Bienvenido.”
If the app is internationalized, the code only points to “welcome message.” The actual word comes from a separate file. To show Spanish, you just add a Spanish file. No changes to the code.
This shows how the two steps depend on each other.
Final Reflection
Get Your Product Ready for the World. Making a plan in advance is crucial. Technical flexibility is provided by internationalisation, but cultural resonance is guaranteed by localisation. When together, they give users worldwide smooth experiences.
Are you prepared to take the world by storm? For professional localisation and internationalisation services, get in touch with TransLinguist right now. Together, we can make your product feel good everywhere.
FAQs
How Will You Describe localisation?
Localisation is the process of tailoring a product to a certain market. This means altering images or symbols, translating text, formatting numbers and dates in accordance with regional norms, and ensuring that the finished product appears natural to the target audience.
What distinguishes localisation from internationalisation?
While localisation involves tailoring the product for a particular market after it has been developed, internationalisation involves preparing the product for numerous markets throughout development. One is cultural, while the other is technological.
Why is it necessary to localise and internationalise products?
Localisation becomes laborious, expensive, and error-prone in the absence of internationalisation. A product could seem generic and foreign if it isn't localised. When combined, they guarantee that a product is both culturally appropriate and technically adaptable.
Is it possible to localise without internationalising?
It's ineffective, but yes. Without internationalisation, developers would have to spend more time and money rewriting code or changing designs to accommodate various languages and cultural norms.
