Server-Side Internationalization with Next.js

Introduction

Internationalization (i18n) is the process of designing applications that can be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes. This lesson focuses on implementing server-side internationalization in Next.js applications.

Key Concepts

• Internationalization (i18n): The design and development of a product to facilitate localization.
• Localization (l10n): The process of adapting a product for a specific region or language.
• Next.js: A React framework for efficient server-side rendering and static site generation.

Setup

To start with server-side internationalization in Next.js, ensure you have a Next.js project set up. You can create a new project using:

npx create-next-app my-i18n-app

Code Implementation

Follow these steps to implement server-side internationalization:

1. Install the necessary packages:

npm install next-i18next

2. Create a configuration file:

touch next-i18next.config.js

In this file, configure your languages:

module.exports = {
            i18n: {
                defaultLocale: 'en',
                locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
            },
        }

3. Modify your next.config.js:

const { i18n } = require('./next-i18next.config');
        
        module.exports = {
            i18n,
        };

4. Create translation files:

In the public/locales directory, create subdirectories for each language, e.g., en/translation.json.

{
            "welcome": "Welcome to our application!",
            "description": "This is a sample application."
        }

5. Use the translations in your components:

import { useTranslation } from 'next-i18next';

        const Home = () => {
            const { t } = useTranslation('translation');
            return 
{t('welcome')}
;
        };

        export default Home;

Best Practices

Consider the following:

• Use descriptive keys for translations.
• Regularly review and test translations for accuracy.
• Utilize tools like Locize for managing translations efficiently.

FAQ