XML

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a flexible text format that facilitates the storage and transport of structured data. It uses a set of rules to encode documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.

Think of an XML file as a series of nested boxes. The boxes, called elements, are nested inside each other. The structured nature of XML makes it perfect for organizing content that needs to be translated while keeping the formatting and metadata intact.

🔦 How is XML used in localization? #️⃣

XML is widely utilized in localization projects to manage multilingual content efficiently. It serves as the foundation for many important file formats. For instance:

• XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format) is an XML-based bitext format created to standardize the way localizable data are passed between and among tools during a localization process.
• Translation Memory eXchange (TMX) is the primary format for exchanging TM data between CAT tools and is XML-based.

This standardization allows different localization tools to work together and share translation data efficiently.

XML’s flexibility makes it valuable for localization projects because it can handle everything: from simple text strings to complex documents with embedded formatting, images, and metadata. This versatility is why many localization tools and platforms have built their workflows around XML-based formats.