Internationalization and localization

Elgg uses the function elgg_echo() to handle the internationalization of user interface text. The function is passed a string identifier and it is mapped to the appropriate string in the viewer's language:

$title = elgg_echo('file:yours');

The mappings are stored in language files named according to the language code (en.php has the English mapping). The mappings are associative arrays:

$english = array(
  'item:site'       => 'Sites',
  'login'           => 'Log in',
  …
  'tags:site_cloud' => 'Site Tag Cloud',    
);

The language files for a plugin are located in its languages directory: /mod/<plugin name>/languages/. A mapping defined in the core or in a plugin can be overridden in a plugin. Plugin loading order determines which string is used if more than one plugin defines a mapping. Plugin language files are automatically loaded by the Elgg engine.

Code location

Core language file: /languages/en.php

Plugin language files: /mod/<plugin name>/languages/en.php