ISO 639

ISO 639 defines codes for the representation of names of languages It provides standardized identifiers for languages to support consistent recognition and processing across platforms, tools, and systems.

The standard has historically included several parts, such as ISO 639-1 (two-letter codes), ISO 639-2 and ISO 639-3 (three-letter codes), each serving different scopes, from major languages to dialects and minority languages. These codes have been widely adopted in linguistics, software development, data processing, and localization.

🧑‍💻 Who is it for? #️⃣

ISO 639 is designed for professionals working with multilingual content, including linguists, software developers, localization specialists, database architects, and content managers. It helps them identify languages consistently, integrate language data into applications, and avoid confusion across global systems.

☝️ Why is it important? #️⃣

It is accepted that by standardizing how languages are represented, ISO 639 enhances interoperability between tools and databases. This allows translators, developers, and researchers to rely on a universal coding system, minimizing ambiguity and maintaining accuracy in multilingual environments.

📌 Key points about ISO 639 #️⃣

• Defines language codes used in digital and linguistic applications
• Covers both widely spoken and lesser-used languages
• Supports multilingual databases, software localization, and data exchange
• Historically divided into multiple parts (ISO 639-1, ISO 639-2, ISO 639-3), now unified

Note: The latest edition at the time of writing is ISO 639:2023, which replaces earlier parts such as ISO 639-1, ISO 639-2, and ISO 639-3 by unifying them into a single framework. Since ISO standards are reviewed and updated regularly, always check the official ISO catalogue entry for the most up-to-date status.