Java™ Internationalization Support
Internationalization is the process of designing an application
so that it can be adapted to various languages and regions without
engineering changes. Sometimes the term internationalization is
abbreviated as i18n, because there are 18 letters between the first
"i" and the last "n."
An internationalized program has the following
characteristics:
- With the addition of localization data, the same executable can
run worldwide.
- Textual elements, such as status messages and the GUI component
labels, are not hardcoded in the program. Instead they are stored
outside the source code and retrieved dynamically.
- Support for new languages does not require recompilation.
- Culturally-dependent data, such as dates and currencies, appear
in formats that conform to the end user's region and language.
- It can be localized quickly.
Acknowledgment: Much of the design and implementation of the
internationalization API is by IBM's Center for Java Technology -
Silicon Valley. Java Software is grateful for their work.
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