Localization and Internationalization Testing

Localization is defined as making a product, app flexible to meet cultural and other needs of specific region.

It is abbreviated as l10n, where 10 is number of letters between l and n.

When localizing an app, following important things are to be modify:

• Date and time format (including numeric format)

• Currency used

• Keyboard usage

• Sorting and aligning

• Colors scheme, symbol and icon

• Text and graphics

Localization and internationalization are together definite as globalization.

Internationalization is  process of designing and developing a product, app such that it fit localization for any given culture, region, or language.

Internationalization is also written i18n, where 18 is number of letters between I and n in word internationalization.

Internationalization basically involve:

• Designing and developing app such that it clarify deployment of localization and internationalization of app. It involves taking care of proper translation of characters in various languages etc. which can be done by using Unicode during development

• Taking care of big picture while developing app in order to support identifying languages we need to add markup in out DTD. Also, we use CSS, to support vertical text.

• Code must be able to support local and regional language. It includes using predefined localization data and features from exist libraries. Date time formats, local calendar holidays etc.

• Making localizable elements separate from source code so that code is independent.

Main points to be considered for localization and internationalization testing are:

1) Language

• Unicode text to serve to character encoding

• Number system

• Writing direction

• Spelling variant

• Capitalization and sorting rule

• Keyboard shortcut and layout

2) Culture and region

• Names and title

• Government number and passport

• Color and image

• Telephone number, zip code, Address format

• Paper size

• Weight and measure

• Currency symbol and currency market position

3) Dates and important Event

• Date and time format

• Calendar type

• Number format

THANKS