Localize
A Swift framework for easy iOS app localization and pluralization, supporting storyboards and strings.
What is Localize?
Localize is a Swift framework that helps iOS developers localize and pluralize their applications with minimal effort. It provides extensions for strings and UIKit components, allowing localization directly from storyboards and supporting both .strings and JSON file formats. The framework solves the complexity of managing multiple languages and plural rules in iOS apps.
iOS developers building apps that require internationalization (i18n) and support for multiple languages, especially those using storyboards for UI design.
Developers choose Localize for its seamless storyboard integration, simple API, and support for dynamic language switching without app restarts. It reduces boilerplate code and simplifies pluralization compared to Apple's native localization tools.
Overview
Localize is a framework writed in swift to localize your projects easier improves i18n, including storyboards and strings.
Use Cases
Best For
- Localizing iOS apps with storyboard-based UIs
- Adding dynamic language switching to iOS applications
- Managing pluralization rules for multiple languages
- Simplifying i18n in Swift projects
- Reducing boilerplate code for string localization
- Using JSON files for localization data in iOS
Not Ideal For
- Apps built primarily with SwiftUI, as Localize is optimized for UIKit and storyboards.
- Projects requiring tight integration with iOS system language settings, since Localize manages language independently.
- Teams needing real-time, server-driven localization updates, as Localize relies on static local files.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Enables localization of UIKit components like UILabel and UIButton directly from Interface Builder using IBInspectable properties, eliminating code for UI updates as demonstrated in the GIF and setup instructions.
Handles plural forms with a simple API for categories like 'zero', 'one', and 'many', supporting value replacement in strings as shown in JSON and .strings examples.
Allows dynamic language changes without app restarts via Localize.update(language:), with automatic UI updates when configured with notifications.
Works with both Apple's .strings files and JSON, offering flexibility in data structure and management, as detailed in the usage section.
Cons
Lacks native support for SwiftUI, making it less suitable for modern iOS development that increasingly uses declarative UI frameworks.
Requires developers to implement NotificationCenter observers to update strings dynamically after language changes, adding boilerplate code and complexity.
As a standalone framework, it may not integrate seamlessly with broader i18n toolchains or backend systems for collaborative translation workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
Localize-SwiftSwift friendly localization and i18n with in-app language switching
BartyCrouchLocalization/I18n: Incrementally update/translate your Strings files from .swift, .h, .m(m), .storyboard or .xib files.
BartyCrouchLocalization/I18n: Incrementally update/translate your Strings files from .swift, .h, .m(m), .storyboard or .xib files.
LocalizationKitRealtime Dynamic localization translation delivery system for iOS and Mac OSX in Swift. Create and update texts from localization.com without needing to recompile or redeploy. Cocapod for iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Mac)
Found a gem we're missing?
Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.