Software localization

Software localization is the process of building a software product so that users in other countries and regions can use it without confusion or friction. It includes translating the visible text and designing the interface to match regional formats, habits, and expectations.

Localization starts with internationalization, which is the process of preparing the codebase to support multiple languages in the first place. Once that work is done, teams can “hook” the software to a TMS (Translation Management System) and use AI, MT, or hire human translators to prepare the content in each different language, while also tweaking the other details we mentioned above.

🧩 Common elements of software localization: #️⃣

• Changing how dates, numbers, or currencies appear.
• Switching text direction.
• Translating buttons, labels, messages, and other UI text.
• Updating layouts to fit longer strings or work with different alphabets or scripts.
• Changing icons and terms so they feel native to the target audience.
• Managing multiple locales in a shared codebase.

Done right, localization makes software easier to use in any language, improves accessibility, and helps teams expand into new markets faster, without rewriting the product from scratch.

Read this guide to learn how to automate the software localization process and avoid costly mistakes.