Use Cases
How teams use mobile app strings localization in practice.
UI Strings
Buttons, labels, navigation, error messages. The core app interface in every language.
App Store Metadata
App name, description, keywords, screenshots. ASO for every market.
Push Notification Templates
Notification content, action buttons, rich media captions.
In-App Purchases
Product names, descriptions, subscription terms. Revenue-critical content.
Common Challenges
What makes mobile app strings localization difficult.
Platform Differences
iOS uses .strings and .stringsdict. Android uses strings.xml with plurals. Different formats, same content.
Pluralization Rules
Arabic has 6 plural forms. Russian has 4. iOS and Android handle this differently.
Character Limits
UI space is limited. German is 30% longer than English. Text must fit buttons and labels.
Context Missing
Translators see strings without UI context. 'Save' could be a button or a noun.
Cross-Platform Sync
iOS and Android may have different string keys. Keeping translations consistent is challenging.
How IntlPull Helps
Purpose-built features for mobile app strings localization.
Format Conversion
Import/export .strings, strings.xml, ARB. Convert between formats automatically.
vs manual format juggling
Plural Handling
Full CLDR plural support. Define once, export to iOS stringsdict and Android plurals.
vs broken plurals
Screenshot Context
Attach screenshots to strings. Translators see exactly where text appears.
vs contextless translation
Length Validation
Set max character limits. Get warnings when translations exceed. Prevent UI overflow.
vs runtime truncation
Cross-Platform Keys
Unified key management. Map iOS and Android keys to single source. Consistent translations.
vs divergent platforms
OTA Updates
Update translations without app store release. Fix typos, add languages instantly.
vs waiting for app review
Best Practices
Proven approaches for mobile app strings localization success.
Use Meaningful Key Names
screen.login.button.submit not string_42. Translators understand context from keys.
Add Developer Comments
iOS supports comments in .strings. Android has tools:hint. Use them for context.
Test on Device
Emulators don't show all issues. Test on real devices in target locales.
Handle RTL Early
Arabic, Hebrew need RTL layouts. Build RTL support from the start, not as afterthought.
Localize App Store First
Users discover via App Store. Localized metadata drives downloads. Prioritize ASO.