# Internationalization (i18n) This project uses [i18next](https://www.i18next.com/) with [react-i18next](https://react.i18next.com/). The setup works with both function components and class components (HOCs). ## Overview - **Default language:** German (`de`), bundled at startup. - **Other languages:** Loaded on demand when the user switches (see `loadLanguage` in `src/i18n/index.js`). - **Persistence:** Language choice is stored in `sessionStorage` / `localStorage` (`i18nextLng`) via a custom detector in `src/i18n/index.js`. - **HTML `lang`:** Updated when the language changes (see `LanguageProvider` in `src/i18n/withTranslation.js`). - **Fallback:** `fallbackLng` is `de`. ### Product-facing behavior - **Language switcher** — `src/components/LanguageSwitcher.js`: shows current language with flag, dropdown to change language, persists selection. - **Translated areas** — Navigation, auth, cart, checkout, product UI, footer, profile, and more; legal pages use dedicated **`legal-*`** namespaces (long-form text). ## Layout | Path | Role | |------|------| | `src/i18n/index.js` | Initializes i18n, registers namespaces, lazy-loads non-German locales | | `src/i18n/withTranslation.js` | `LanguageProvider`, `withTranslation`, `withI18n`, `withLanguage` | | `src/i18n/locales//` | Per-language modules (`de`, `en`, …) | Each language folder contains: - **`index.js`** — Merges feature modules into the main **`translation`** namespace (shop UI: `navigation`, `cart`, `product`, …). Some legal content is also re-exported here under camelCase keys (e.g. `legalAgbDelivery`) for convenience; runtime legal pages use separate namespaces (see below). - **One file per topic** — e.g. `cart.js`, `navigation.js`, `product.js` (not a single `translation.json`). - **Legal bundles** — e.g. `legal-agb-delivery.js`, `legal-datenschutz-basic.js`, `legal-impressum.js`, registered as their **own i18next namespaces** in `src/i18n/index.js`. ## Namespaces - **`translation`** (default) — Everything merged in `locales//index.js`. Keys are dot paths such as `cart.addToCart` or `product.title`. - **`legal-*`** — Long-form legal copy. Loaded the same way, but you select the namespace in `useTranslation('legal-impressum')` (or equivalent). Keys are relative to that namespace, e.g. `sections.operator.title`, not `legal-impressum.sections.operator.title`. Default namespace is `translation`; omit the argument for shop UI: ```javascript const { t } = useTranslation(); // same as useTranslation('translation') ``` Legal page example: ```javascript const { t } = useTranslation('legal-impressum'); return t('title'); ``` Multiple namespaces in one component: ```javascript const { t: tDelivery } = useTranslation('legal-agb-delivery'); const { t: tPayment } = useTranslation('legal-agb-payment'); ``` ## Usage in components ### Function components ```javascript import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'; const MyComponent = () => { const { t } = useTranslation(); return {t('navigation.home')}; }; ``` ### Class components — `withI18n` (translation + language context) `withI18n` combines translation and language context. Use it when you need `t` and optionally `languageContext`: ```javascript import { withI18n } from '../i18n/withTranslation.js'; class MyComponent extends Component { render() { const { t } = this.props; return {t('navigation.home')}; } } export default withI18n()(MyComponent); ``` ### Class components — `withTranslation` + `withLanguage` Some components only need `t` and `languageContext` from separate HOCs: ```javascript import { withTranslation } from 'react-i18next'; import { withLanguage } from '../i18n/withTranslation.js'; export default withTranslation()(withLanguage(MyComponent)); ``` Destructuring in `render`: ```javascript const { t, title } = this.props; t('product.new'); ``` `this.props.t('…')` resolves against the default `translation` namespace. ### Language context (`changeLanguage`) ```javascript import { withLanguage } from '../i18n/withTranslation.js'; class MyComponent extends Component { render() { const { languageContext } = this.props; return ( ); } } export default withLanguage(MyComponent); ``` Available language codes are defined on `LanguageProvider` (`allLanguages` in `withTranslation.js`); the switcher only offers languages that are loaded or loading. ## Key naming - Use **dot notation** for nested objects in the JS exports: `product.inclVat`, `delivery.times.standard2to3Days`. - File names in `locales/de/` map to **top-level segments** inside `index.js` (e.g. `cart.js` → `cart.*`). Keep new strings in the appropriate module and **export them from `index.js`** if you add a new file. ## Interpolation i18next interpolation uses `{{name}}` in strings and an options object: ```javascript t('product.weight', { weight: '1,2' }); ``` ```javascript // locale string example: "Gewicht: {{weight}} kg" ``` ## Language switching `LanguageProvider` coordinates `i18n.changeLanguage` and lazy loading. Non-default languages are loaded via `loadLanguage` in `src/i18n/index.js`, which dynamic-imports the same file layout under `locales//`. ## Adding or changing copy 1. Edit the right module under `src/i18n/locales/de/` (source of truth for structure). 2. Mirror changes in other languages under `src/i18n/locales//` as needed, or use the project’s translation tooling (`npm run translate`, etc. — see `translate-i18n.js` and `package.json` scripts). 3. For a **new top-level section**, add the module import and export in `locales//index.js` for every language you ship. ### Example (new keys in an existing file) `src/i18n/locales/de/cart.js`: ```javascript export default { // ... newFeature: { title: 'Neuer Titel', description: 'Neue Beschreibung', }, }; ``` Use in code: `t('cart.newFeature.title')` (assuming the `cart` object is merged under `cart` in `index.js`). ## Adding a new language 1. Add a folder `src/i18n/locales//` with the same **file set** as German (at minimum `index.js` and every module `index.js` imports, plus all `legal-*.js` files registered in `src/i18n/index.js`). 2. Ensure `loadLanguage` in `src/i18n/index.js` can import that folder (pattern already uses `import(\`./locales/${language}/...\`)`). 3. Include the code in `allLanguages` (and any UI lists) in `withTranslation.js` / `LanguageSwitcher.js` as needed. 4. Clear the language cache logic if you add special cases (`languageCache` in `index.js`). ## Configuration notes - **Detection:** Custom detector in `src/i18n/index.js` prefers session/localStorage, then defaults to `de` (browser language is not used for the initial default). - **Debug:** i18next `debug` follows `NODE_ENV` (on in development). - **Missing keys:** `saveMissing` can run in development (see `src/i18n/index.js`). ## SEO - Document `lang` updates with language changes. - You can extend the app with hreflang, localized routes, or metadata per language as needed. ## Best practices 1. **Keep structure parallel** across `locales//` files. 2. **Prefer German (`de`) as the structural source**; keep `fallbackLng` aligned with your primary market. 3. **Use interpolation** for variable fragments: `t('key', { name: value })`. 4. **Test** critical flows after adding strings or languages. ## Translation coverage (high level) Coverage varies by screen; shop flows, auth, cart, products, and legal pages have substantial strings. Remaining gaps are normal for a growing app—search for hard-coded German/English in components when polishing. ## Performance - **German** is in the initial bundle. - **Other languages** load on first switch (dynamic import), then stay cached in the i18n layer for the session. ## Browser support Modern browsers with ES modules, `localStorage` / `sessionStorage`, and your supported React version. --- ## Key usage check (`scripts/check-i18n-keys.mjs`) The check answers: *which keys defined for German (`src/i18n/locales/de`) appear to be unused in `src/`?* Run: ```bash npm run i18n:check-keys # or node scripts/check-i18n-keys.mjs ``` Machine-readable output: ```bash node scripts/check-i18n-keys.mjs --json ``` ### What the script detects The script only understands **static** key strings: - `t('cart.addToCart')`, `t("…")` - `this.props.t('…')`, `props.t('…')` - Aliases from `useTranslation('namespace')`, e.g. `const { t: tDelivery } = useTranslation('legal-agb-delivery');` then `tDelivery('deliveryTerms.1')` - Destructuring `const { t } = this.props` / `props` for HOC-wrapped components - Fully static template literals without interpolation: `` t(`some.key`) `` It flattens locale objects the same way i18next does (leaf keys only). ### Embedded legal copy vs separate namespaces Legal strings exist in two shapes: 1. **Separate namespace** (what pages use): `legal-agb-delivery` + key `deliveryTerms.1`. 2. **Embedded in `translation`**: `legalAgbDelivery.deliveryTerms.1` inside `locales/de/index.js`. The script treats a key as used in the **embedded** `translation` tree when the matching **separate-namespace** key is used, so you do not see false “unused” duplicates for the same text. ### Dynamic keys (`t(\`…${x}…\`)`) If the key is built at runtime, the static scan will not see it. The script includes **hard-coded expansions** for known patterns on: - `src/pages/AGB.js` - `src/pages/Datenschutz.js` (basic Datenschutz sections) - `src/pages/Impressum.js` If you add **new** dynamic patterns elsewhere, either: - Prefer **static** keys where reasonable (`t('feature.section.title')` per section), or - Extend `addKnownDynamicLegalKeys` (or equivalent) in `scripts/check-i18n-keys.mjs` so the checker knows which key paths can occur. Other files may still be listed under “template literals in `t(...)`” when the script cannot prove all keys. ### Making new keys “count” for the checker 1. Call `t` with a **string literal** (or a template literal **without** `${…}`) as the first argument. 2. Use **`useTranslation('namespace')`** with a **string literal** namespace so aliases like `tFoo` map correctly. 3. For class components, keep **`const { t } = this.props`** (or `props`) so the script ties `t` to `translation`. Avoid only referencing a key from non-`src` code (build scripts, server-only files): the checker only scans `src/` and skips `src/i18n/locales/**`. ### Interpreting results - **Unused** — No static (and no expanded dynamic) reference found; may still be dead copy, or only used via variables/dynamic templates. - **Used but not in locale files** — A reference in code does not match any defined German key (typo or missing `de` entry). The report is **best-effort**; use it to find obvious dead strings and drift, not as a formal guarantee.