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# Internationalization

> ### by Dale Green

> The lessons in this trail teach you how to internationalize Java applications. After internationalization, it is easy to tailor applications to the customs and languages of end-users around the world.

> > Note: The internationalization features documented in this trail were added to the Java Development Kit for its 1.1 release. Thus, the code examples in the following lessons will work only on Java platforms that are compatible with version 1.1 of the Java Development Kit.

> Global Markets explains why designing applications for the the global marketplace is important, and defines terms such as internationalization and localization.

> A Quick Example describes the steps involved in internationalizing a simple program. This section introduces the `Locale` and `ResourceBundle` objects, and explains how to use them with properties files to manage translatable text.

> Setting the Locale describes how to create and use `Locale` objects.

> Isolating Locale-specific Objects in a ResourceBundle shows how to dynamically access objects that vary with `Locale`.

> Number and Currency Formatting explains how to format numbers and currency according to `Locale`, and how to create customized formats with patterns.

> Date and Time Formatting describes the techniques you can use to make your programs independent of the `Locale` conventions required for date and time formatting.

> Message Formatting shows you how to work with message text that contains variable data.

> Working with Exceptions explains how to get localized messages from `Exception` subclasses.

> String Comparisons describes how to compare strings in a locale-independent manner.

> Detecting Text Boundaries explains how to locate character, word, sentence, and line boundaries.

> Converting Non-Unicode Text discusses techniques for converting between Unicode and non-Unicode text.

> A Checklist for Internationalizing an Existing Program provides an overview of the tasks required during internationalization.

> Please send comments about this trail to: tutorial@java.sun.com. In your message, place i18n in the subject header. Your feedback is important to us!

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