A short guide to the Localization Testing

What it is?

Localization testing is performed on a system which is designed to work for a particular culture or locale. In a word, a procedure to customize the product for a specific language or country. Localization testing ensures everything, including Language, UI, or functionality, works properly for that targeted region.

Example

These days, many websites and software systems offer multi-lingual functionality for business opportunities, growth and expansion. Just a quick example: If you are a Bengali and hit the Gmail URL from a corner of Bangladesh, you will find this well-known site in the Bengali language. And it’s true for other countries as well. So that’s why it’s important to test the whole software from a local perspective.

Scope Of Testing

As the title suggests, it will be a short guideline for localization testing. So I will go brief. So let’s jump into the main part for the testers. What should we test in a localized product?

So, here’s the short but essential checklist for testing a local version of a software.

UI Testing

UI is the major area that is mostly affected by the localization of the product. Testers should keep in mind the following scenario for UI Testing.

• Language Test
• All the text should be in that specific local language
• Proper Translation
• Writing Directions should match that specific local language. For example: Some language(Ex: Arabic, Urdu etc) are written from right to left
• Numerical Values
• Capitalization Rule
• Grammer Rule
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Spelling Variants
• Text Alignment
• Cultural and Regional Test
• Currency
• Symbol and icons
• Keyboard Usage(Some countries use keyboard specific to their language, like Korean, Bengali)
• Sensitivity of sentences (For example, In some cultures some words/sentences can be casually used, and the same word could be sensitive for other cultures)
• Names and Titles (Use of Mr./Miss)
• Phone Numbers format
• Postal address and ZIP code format
• Government Numbers
• Colours, Images or Symbols:
• Legal Requirements
• Date and time formats
• Calender type (Gregorian, Lunar etc.)

Functional Testing

In one specific sentence, all the functional testing that are performed in the main version should be performed in the localized version too!

Benefits of Localization Testing

1. Expansion of business and global recognition
2. Increase customers, which results in more revenue and conversions
3. Saves the products from mistranslation or misinterpretation of the information
4. And Lastly, you can win the heart of the local residents by giving them a great Experience!