A method for delivering content changes to a live application without interruption.
Hot reloading is a technique that injects updated code, stylesheets, or content into a running application and reflects changes immediately without requiring a full restart. Originally developed for software development workflows (React, Flutter, .NET), hot reloading keeps the application state intact while swapping out modified components or resources.
In localization workflows, hot reloading allows translation updates to appear in running applications without rebuilding or redeploying. Instead of the traditional cycle (translate content, rebuild app, redeploy, test), hot reloading lets teams push translation updates that users receive automatically while the app continues running. This is particularly valuable for web applications and mobile apps where translation fixes or improvements need to reach users quickly without forcing them to download new app versions or refresh their browsers.
Hot reloading for localization often relies on remote delivery rather than bundled files alone. Translations load at runtime from a remote source and refresh when changes are detected. This allows apps to stay responsive to content updates while keeping build-time bundles as a fallback for offline or initial load.
Localazy supports this model through its Language CDN, which delivers updated translations directly to applications without requiring new builds. Changes propagate across all CDN points within minutes and automatically publish to the “latest” version within 15-minute intervals.
The CDN includes metadata files for detecting new translations or languages, allowing apps to refresh content automatically and add language options dynamically. For best results, bundle translations at build time using Localazy CLI while checking the CDN when online to pull the latest updates. The CDN works with the Releases feature to maintain separate versions for development, staging, and production environments.