Locale Defined
When related to localization, the term locale has a very specific meaning. In this context, it refers to the combination of a country and a language to define a very specific target market. Examples of locales are:
- US English vs British English
- Spanish for Spain vs Mexican Spanish vs US Spanish
- French for France vs Canadian French
Standardized codes are used to specify locales, such as:
en_US vs en_GB
es_ES vs es_MX vs es_US
fr_FR vs fr_CA
These codes are used in software programming as well as for general reference.
A locale dictates an end user’s default preferences when using a software application or website. A locale may define, for example, what date format or number format is used by an application, or where a link goes on a website.
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Localization Defined
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Tags: Definitions, Locale, Localization
Posted in: Articles
