Globalizing your app (HTML)

[ This article is for Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x developers writing Windows Runtime apps. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation ]

Purpose

This section contains how-to topics and guidelines to help you globalize and localize your Windows Store app.

Windows is used worldwide, in a variety of different markets and for target audiences that vary in culture, region, or language. Users may speak any language in the world, and they may even speak multiple languages. Users may also be located anywhere in the world. They can even speak any language in any location. You can use these guidelines and how-to topics to learn more about how to adapt your software for additional languages, markets, cultures, and regions. This information guides you through a set of best practices for development, and points you to further information on how to prepare your app for international markets.

Watch this video for a brief introduction to globalization and localization:

In this section

Topic Description

Quickstart: Translating UI resources

Put string resources for your UI into resource files. You can then reference those strings from your code or markup.

Quickstart: Using global-ready formats

Design your app to be global-ready by appropriately formatting dates, times, numbers, and currencies. This permits you to adapt it later for additional cultures, regions, and languages in the global market.

How to manage language and region

You can control how Windows selects UI resources, and formats the UI elements of the app. To control these features, use the various language and region settings provided by Windows.

How to prepare for localization

Follow the steps and best practices described here to prepare your app for localization.

How to adjust layout and fonts for various languages

Support localized layouts and fonts in your Windows Store apps by following a few simple guidelines.

How to use patterns to format dates and times

Use the Windows.Globalization.DateTimeFormatting API with custom patterns to display dates and times in exactly the format you wish.

How to internationalize content, libraries and web services

Ensure that your app's content is internationalized in a way that is consistent with external components and web services.

How to localize WinJS controls

Localize the labels and icons of your WinJS controls along with the rest of your app's content.

How to support bi-directional UI

Design your apps to supply bi-directional text support (BiDi) for right-to-left writing systems.

How to use the Multilingual App Toolkit

The Multilingual App Toolkit integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio to provide Windows Store apps and Windows Phone apps with translation support, translation file management, and editor tools.

 

Globalization and localization how-to guide for Windows 10 apps