Fallback Language
The default language used when a translation is missing in the requested language.
Definition
A fallback language is the default language displayed when a translation is not available in the user's preferred language. Typically, the source language (often English) serves as the fallback. Fallback chains can be configured: es-MX → es → en (Mexican Spanish falls back to generic Spanish, then English). This ensures users always see content rather than empty strings or keys.
Examples
- →User requests German, but string isn't translated → show English
- →Fallback chain: pt-BR → pt → en (Brazilian Portuguese → Portuguese → English)
- →Fallback to key: 'auth.login.button' shown if no translation exists
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if even the fallback language is missing?
Depends on configuration. Options: show the translation key (auth.login.button), show empty string, throw error (development only), show placeholder. Best practice: ensure 100% coverage in fallback language.
Can I have different fallbacks for different languages?
Yes. Configure language-specific fallback chains. Example: all Spanish variants fall back to es-ES before en. Norwegian Nynorsk (nn) falls back to Norwegian Bokmal (nb) before en. Most i18n libraries support this.