i18n is an abbreviation for internationalization, a process of designing and developing websites or web applications to be adaptable and culturally suitable for users from different countries and language preferences.
i18n is required to overcome language and cultural barriers, making your website or web application accessible to a global audience. By implementing i18n, you can provide multilingual support, localize content, and adapt to regional formats such as date, time, and currency. It enhances user experience and helps to reach a broader user base.
i18n should be considered when you have a target audience that speaks different languages or when you want to expand your reach to international markets. It is particularly relevant for e-commerce platforms, content-heavy websites, and any application that aims to cater to users from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
i18n impacts your website or web application by enabling you to provide translated versions of your content, localize UI elements, and handle multilingual input and output. It involves the use of language files or databases, internationalized templates, and frameworks that facilitate efficient translation management and language-specific formatting. With i18n, your website becomes more inclusive and user-friendly for people from different linguistic backgrounds.
i18n originated from the need to develop software and systems that can be adapted and used globally. It emerged as a result of the increasing interconnectedness of our world, where businesses and individuals seek to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. i18n practices have been adopted across various industries, including software development, website localization, and international business.