Handling Right-to-Left Languages

2.1 Definitions

• Internationalization (i18n): The process of designing software applications that can be adapted to various languages and regions without requiring engineering changes.
• Localization (l10n): The adaptation of an internationalized application to meet the language, cultural and other requirements of a specific target market.
• Right-to-Left (RTL): A directionality in languages where text is read from the right to the left, necessitating specific layout and UI considerations.

3.1 Step-by-Step Process

1. Identify RTL Languages: Determine which languages in your application will require RTL support.
2. Set Directionality: Use CSS to set the direction property of your container elements.

.container {
    direction: rtl; /* Set direction for RTL support */
    text-align: right; /* Align text to the right */
}
                

3. Adapt Layouts: Ensure all UI components support RTL layouts, flipping icons, buttons, and other elements as necessary.
4. Test Thoroughly: Conduct user testing with native speakers to identify any issues with the RTL implementation.

4.1 Recommendations

• Use Unicode for text encoding to support multiple languages seamlessly.
• Use CSS logical properties instead of physical properties (e.g., use margin-inline-start instead of margin-left) for better support across languages.
• Ensure all images, icons, and buttons are flipped appropriately for RTL contexts.
• Maintain clear separation between layout and content to facilitate easier localization.