Comma-separated values (CSV) files are a simple and widely used format for storing tabular data. In the context of localization, CSV files can be utilized to manage translation strings efficiently. Each row in a CSV file typically represents a single translation entry, making it a straightforward way to handle multiple languages in separate files.
Technical information
Overview
Format name:
Comma-separated values (CSV)
File extensions:
.csv
Common use cases:
Managing tabular data, including localization strings, in a simple text format that can be easily imported and exported by various applications.
Technical details:
Structure: CSV files consist of rows of data, with each row containing fields separated by commas. Each row represents a single record, and each field within the row represents a specific piece of data.
Encoding: UTF-8
Separator: Comma (,)
Example:
Here's an example of a typical CSV file used for localization:
welcome,Welcome to the app!,Shown on the main page,Friendly tone
country,Select your country,Shown on the signup page,Polite tone
Using with Lokalise
Lokalise supports standard CSV files, making it easy to import and export translation strings.
Supported project types
Please note that CSV files can be uploaded only to Web and mobile projects.
CSV file requirements
CSV files should have the following columns:
Key name
Translation value
Description (optional)
Comment (optional)
The order of these columns does not matter when uploading CSV files via the Lokalise web interface. However, if you are using our API or a CLI, the columns must be provided in the order shown above.
Here's an example of a valid CSV file with two translation keys:
welcome,Welcome to the app!,Shown on the main page,Friendly tone
country,Select your country,Shown on the signup page,Polite tone
Adjusting columns
When you upload a CSV file via the web interface, you'll be able to choose what data each column contains (or ignore that column):
When you are ready, click Apply and perform the uploading as usual.
Known limitations
One language per file: Lokalise supports standard CSV files with one language per file. This means each CSV file should contain translation strings for only one language.
Separator: Only commas are supported as separators. Other delimiters like semicolons or tabs are not supported.
No hierarchical structure: CSV files do not inherently support hierarchical data structures, which can limit their use for complex localization needs.
No plural support: Plurals are not supported in
.csvfiles.