Prerequisites
- React 18+ application
- Node.js 18+
- npm or pnpm package manager
Common Challenges
Problems developers face when localizing React apps—and how IntlPull helps.
Initial Setup Complexity
i18next has many configuration options. Choosing the right setup for your use case takes research.
File Management at Scale
Managing JSON translation files across teams. Merge conflicts. Missing keys. Version drift.
Translation Workflow
Developers extract strings. Translators work in spreadsheets. Import/export cycles. Manual coordination.
react-i18next Features
Why react-i18next is a great choice for React localization.
Namespace Support
Split translations by feature or page. Load only what you need. Reduce initial bundle size.
vs single translation file
Lazy Loading
Load translations on-demand. Perfect for large apps with many languages. Automatic chunk splitting.
vs loading all upfront
Interpolation & Plurals
ICU MessageFormat support. Handle complex pluralization, gender, and variables.
vs basic string replacement
SSR Compatible
Works with Next.js, Remix, and custom SSR setups. Hydration-safe translation hooks.
vs client-only solutions
Context API Integration
Uses React Context for language state. No prop drilling. Automatic re-renders on language change.
vs manual state management
Plugin Ecosystem
Detection plugins, backend loaders, caching. Extend functionality without forking.
vs building from scratch
Quick Setup
Get react-i18next running in your React project.
Install Dependencies
Add react-i18next and i18next to your project.
npm install react-i18next i18next i18next-http-backend i18next-browser-languagedetectorCreate i18n Configuration
Set up the i18n instance with your preferred options.
import i18n from 'i18next';
import { initReactI18next } from 'react-i18next';
import Backend from 'i18next-http-backend';
import LanguageDetector from 'i18next-browser-languagedetector';
i18n
.use(Backend)
.use(LanguageDetector)
.use(initReactI18next)
.init({
fallbackLng: 'en',
debug: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development',
interpolation: {
escapeValue: false,
},
backend: {
loadPath: '/locales/{{lng}}/{{ns}}.json',
},
});
export default i18n;Wrap Your App
Import and initialize i18n in your app entry point.
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom/client';
import './i18n'; // Import i18n configuration
import App from './App';
ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
<React.StrictMode>
<App />
</React.StrictMode>
);Use Translations
Use the useTranslation hook in your components.
import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
function Welcome() {
const { t } = useTranslation();
return (
<div>
<h1>{t('welcome.title')}</h1>
<p>{t('welcome.description')}</p>
</div>
);
}IntlPull Integration
Connect IntlPull to manage translations professionally.
Install IntlPull CLI
Add the CLI to manage translations.
npm install -D @intlpull/cliInitialize Project
Connect to your IntlPull project.
npx intlpull initPull Translations
Download translations to your locale files.
npx intlpull pull --format json --output ./public/localesPush New Strings
Upload new translation keys from your codebase.
npx intlpull push --source ./public/locales/enFrequently Asked Questions
Related Guides
React Intl (Format.js) Guide
Complete guide to React localization with react-intl from Format.js. ICU MessageFormat, date/number formatting, and IntlPull integration.
Next.js Localization with next-intl
Complete guide to Next.js App Router localization with next-intl. Server components, routing, metadata, and IntlPull integration.