Internationalization Testing Methodologies

Definitions

• **Internationalization**: Designing a software application to support multiple languages and cultural norms.
• **Localization**: Adapting the internationalized software for a specific region or language.
• **Locale**: A set of parameters that defines the user's language, country, and any special variant preferences.

Methodologies Overview

1. **Static Testing**: Review code and resources for internationalization compliance without executing the software.
2. **Dynamic Testing**: Execute the application with different locales to assess functionality and usability.
3. **Automated Testing**: Use scripts and tools to perform repetitive tests across multiple locales automatically.
4. **User Acceptance Testing (UAT)**: Involve native speakers to validate the experience in their language.

Step-by-Step Dynamic Testing Process

1. Set up testing environment with multiple locales.
2. Load the application in the target locale.
3. Verify UI elements and text display correctly.
4. Test functionality (e.g., forms, buttons) in the target language.
5. Check cultural relevance of content.
6. Document and report discrepancies.
                

Automated Testing Example

Using Selenium for web applications:

from selenium import webdriver

# Set up WebDriver for different locales
driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.get("http://your-application-url.com?lang=fr")

# Assert text in French
assert "Bienvenue" in driver.page_source
                

Key Recommendations

• Ensure all strings are externalized and translatable.
• Use locale-aware libraries for date, time, and currency formats.
• Test with real data to simulate user experience across cultures.
• Involve native speakers in the review process.