By following these best practices, you can improve the quality and usability of localized software, ensuring that it meets the expectations and requirements of users across different languages and regions.
https://www.crestechsoftware.com/services/non-functional-quality-assurance/globalization-testing/
1. Best Practices for
Localization Testing
Plan early: Localization testing should
be considered from the early stages of
the development process. This allows
for proper internationalization (i18n) of
the software, making it easier to adapt
to different languages and locales.
Test with native speakers: It is crucial
to involve native speakers of the target
language during the testing process.
They can identify linguistic and cultural
issues that may not be apparent to
non-native speakers. Consider
collaborating with professional
localization testers or hiring in-country
resources for accurate results.
Test in different locales: Each locale
may have specific requirements and
preferences regarding date formats,
time zones, numeric formats, currency
symbols, and other regional
differences. Test the application in
multiple locales to ensure it functions
correctly and aligns with local
expectations.
Verify translations: Check the accuracy
of translations and ensure that the text
is properly displayed within the user
interface. Verify that translations are
contextually appropriate, avoid
grammatical errors, and maintain
consistency throughout the
application.
Consider character encoding and
fonts: Different languages may require
specific character encodings and fonts
to display correctly. Test the
application with different character
sets and fonts to ensure proper
rendering and readability.
Check for text expansion/contraction:
Translated text may expand or
contract, affecting the layout of user
interfaces, dialog boxes, buttons, and
menus. Test for text overflow,
truncation, and layout issues that may
arise due to varying text lengths in
different languages.
Validate date, time, and number
formats: Different regions use different
conventions for representing dates,
times, and numbers. Verify that the
application handles these formats
correctly and that data is parsed and
2. displayed accurately according to the
user's locale.
Test for localized content: Content
such as images, videos, audio files, and
other media should be localized
appropriately. Verify that multimedia
assets align with the target audience's
culture, customs, and preferences.
Test for bidirectional languages: If
your application supports languages
with right-to-left (RTL) scripts such as
Arabic or Hebrew, test for proper text
rendering, layout, and alignment.
Ensure that user interfaces adapt and
function correctly with RTL languages.
Perform functional and non-functional
testing: Localization testing goes
beyond linguistic aspects. Conduct
functional testing to ensure that
localized versions of the application
function properly. Test for proper error
handling, data validation, user input,
and any other functional requirements.
Also, consider non-functional aspects
like performance, scalability, and
usability.
Test with localized environments:
Emulate the target locale's
environment by configuring the
operating system, time zones, currency
formats, and other relevant settings.
This helps identify issues that may arise
due to differences in regional
configurations.
Ensure compatibility: Test the localized
version of the application across
different platforms, devices, and
browsers. Check for compatibility
issues specific to different locales and
ensure that the user experience is
consistent across various
environments.
Document issues and provide context:
When reporting localization bugs,
provide detailed information about the
issue, including the affected locale,
specific text or UI element, expected
behavior, and any relevant cultural or
linguistic context. This helps developers
understand and address the problems
more effectively.
Iterate and validate fixes: After fixing
localization issues, perform regression
testing to ensure that the fixes do not
introduce new problems. Re-validate
the localized versions to confirm that
the fixes address the reported issues
accurately.
https://www.crestechsoftware.com/services
/non-functional-quality-
assurance/globalization-testing/