Web and XML Glossary

L10N is the process of adapting software for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components and translating text. The abbreviation is based on the fact that the rather lengthy word 'localization' starts with a 'l' followed by 10 characters followed by an 'n'. Usually, the most time-consuming portion of L10N is the translation of text. Other types of data, such as sounds and images, may require L10N if they are culturally sensitive. The formatting of dates, numbers, and currencies also must conform to local requirements. The effort required for the L10N of a system heavily depends on how much I18N has been taken into account when building the system.