How do you set up multi language websites?

Question

I'm planning on setting up a multi language website, for example, one might be Portugese and English as options for textual content...

Japanese / English etc.

For example, index.html might be English, then I might have say japanese-home.html for the Japanese version of (index.html)...

Is there a code I need to use to 'tell' each page what language will be used...?

How does it work?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

B.

Answer 1

Many Web sites handle multi-language needs by using server-side scripting, such as PHP or ASP.NET.

Based upon header information the server gets from the Web browser, they display the proper language on the page.

You could also do as you suggest: capture the locale / language settings from a browser and route the user to the appropriate place.

However, not all browsers transmit locale information in their headers. So, you may need to use a button / link option to change languages.

If you go the server-side script route, you use a database, array, XML or similar data storage method to store the text for the page in the proper character set, then spit that out onto the page based on user choice.

Answer 2

you can use subdomains like jp.website.com for japan. sp for spanish etc.