ELI5: What does i18n mean?

i18n is a fancy abbreviation that means making things like websites or apps work for people who speak different languages and live in different countries.

Imagine you have a favorite toy, like a talking teddy bear. Right now, it only speaks English. i18n is like teaching that teddy bear to speak Spanish, French, or even Japanese!

• It's about changing the words on the screen to the user's language. So, instead of "Hello," it might say "Hola" or "Bonjour."
• It's also about making sure things look right for different cultures. For example, in some countries, they write dates as "day/month/year," while in others, it's "month/day/year." i18n makes sure the date shows up correctly for everyone.

Similarly, if you're buying something online, i18n ensures the prices are shown in your local currency (like dollars, euros, or yen). It also makes sure the address fields ask for information in the way your country expects it.

• i18n is like making sure that a gift you give is wrapped in paper that is appropriate for the person's culture.
• i18n is like adjusting the volume of your voice when talking to someone who has trouble hearing.