How to Perform Localization Testing of Websites & Apps

In today’s fast-paced market, it’s essential to create apps or web products that best meet the needs of your target customers. And if you want to get customers from different countries, localization and localization testing become an important aspect.

In today’s Day Translations blog post, we explore this multi-faceted process. 

What Is Localization?

Website or app localization is not just translation but a full-fledged adaptation of a digital product to the local language and culture in the target market.

For example, if you offer an app in a country where the language is based on a font other than Latin, it’s important to make sure that all fonts are displayed properly and that input works in the right language.

Another important localization example is a situation when you want your online store customers to come from a country where all kiwi-based products are banned by law. Thus, you have to make sure that customers from that country would definitely not see any of such products that would violate the law.

What Is Localization Testing?

Localization testing is a method of testing the accuracy, correctness and suitability of a software product for specific locations and cultures. It can be any country, state or city. The method is used to test how the local version of the product works in a particular environment and if it’s capable enough to be used in that specific environment.

Localization testing checks the following parameters:

• Time format;
• Currency format;
• User interface (UI);
• Display of national symbols;
• Regional language (translation quality);
• Compliance with local laws and regulations;
• Compliance with the needs of the local target audience, etc.

Note that localization testing is not a substitute for linguistic testing. The latter is carried out by professional translators (when necessary) and detects only spelling, punctuation and stylistic errors.

Nevertheless, localization testing includes the detection of translation errors. The main goal in this case, however, is to identify irregularities in the software system, including translation errors that affect the location of buttons, links and hyphenation.

Localization testing is in many ways similar to quality assurance (QA), even though it is aimed at studying possible problems related to localization peculiarities.

Basic Aspects of Localization Testing

Localization testing is first and foremost a time saver for developers. It’s also a guarantee that your software product will not cause negative feedback from your local audience due to localization issues.

Localization testing mainly focuses on the following key aspects:

• User interface (UI). It’s necessary to identify any irregularities in the appearance and usability of the product, e.g. overlapping elements, truncated text and irrelevant elements (buttons, blocks, images, etc.). If your website or app will run on different devices, you need to make sure that their interface displays correctly on all of them;
• National symbols. The same goes for symbols and typographical aspects that are specific to the region, including quotation marks, apostrophes, etc.;
• Functionality. Localization testing verifies that the local version of the product works exactly the same as the original app;
• Input data. The software product must correctly handle nationally specific characters and fonts;
• Date, time, currency and unit formats. All of these must be displayed in a convenient way and processed correctly in the app;

Modules that are responsible for changing the functionality of the app in accordance with the peculiarities of local laws and cultural traditions are checked separately.

Localization Testing: General Stages 

The stages of localization testing can vary greatly depending on the features of the app, website and localization itself. However, there are a few basic rules to follow:

• Do your research to identify the content to be tested and find out where you should place it;
• Based on your research, create a plan for testing;
• Determine the testing environment and key automation tools, including for reporting problems identified;
• Set up the test environment to make bug reports available to everyone involved in the process (e.g. testers, linguists, programmers, project managers, etc.);
• Determine how test results will be communicated to different specialists (Excel/CSV, screenshots, change tracking, TMS QA, etc.);
• After all the necessary corrections are made, think about the number of iterations and the specifics of testing.

The main pitfalls are a lack of planning or ill-conceived communication. It’s important that everyone involved in the process understands the goals and objectives in advance. You need to make sure in advance that the interaction of different specialists is effective.

How to Automate Localization Testing

Localization testing can be partially automated. Thus, truncation and overlay testing can be performed automatically. A QA engineer may not be a linguist or a native speaker, therefore, it’s enough for the person to know the criteria essential to the locale.

The main parts of the automated testing process are as follows:

• Defining the strategy. It’s necessary to clearly define your main focus. Which parts of the app will be tested for which locales? What will be the percentage of coverage in each locale? Which parts of the testing will be automated? Etc.;
• Implement automated test cases for design and software parts. It’s simply impossible to test everything automatically. However, some companies often use what is called “smoke testing” to reduce the cost of the testing process. These are automated tests of the main parts of the app, which detect simple and obvious failures. They help make sure that everything works well as a whole;
• Creating test cases. To prepare test cases, the developer documentation feature specification is usually used. Each case should have several parts: setup, repro steps, sample files and a description of expected behavior.

There are many localization testing automation tools. Some are local, others help perform quick testing online. This includes simulations of different operating systems and screen sizes. All of this speeds up the whole process but doesn’t negate the need for a testing team.

Automation plays a vital role in scaling localization testing efficiently. Instead of juggling multiple tools for UI validation, accessibility, and visual checks, leveraging an all-in-one solution through automated software testing streamlines the entire process.

Localization Testing: Team Composition

The localization testing team, like any other team, includes different specialists with different roles:

• Project manager;
• Test designers;
• QA engineers;
• Testing team leaders;
• Localization testers, etc.

When you contact a reliable mobile app testing service, you will surely be informed about the team of specialists involved in your project. 

How to Perform Localization Testing

Basically, localization testing of an app focuses on checking the quality of translation, user interface and user experience (UX).

When testing localization, make sure you check the following aspects:

• Content loads in the correct language;
• The translation is correct and does not detract from the overall UX of your app/website;
• Your code works properly (as it should);
• Placeholders are tied to the right strings;
• The correct fonts load for each language.

Test preparation begins with a testing checklist that includes all the information, context and variables for which you localize. The checklist will also provide a reproducible framework for your testing efforts.

Localization Structure 

Below is an example of a localization checklist, also known as a localization framework:

• Information is required to understand the software product. Gather all the relevant documentation, a glossary, background information, a list of industry-specific terms, a user guide and any additional context that will help testers understand the product. This will help make the testing process as thorough and correct as possible;
• User manual for testers. Creating a guide specifically for localization testing is incredibly wise for thorough testing. This is where you can include your ideal scenario of use to help testers understand how the product will be used by customers and where they need to look;
• Allow testers to be guided by your exploratory approach. If the application is complex, you can let testers act more independently. Combining scenarios you’ve developed with independent research will help reveal smaller details that may get missed in the manual;
• Perform testing. Whether you’re testing an app or a website, it’s always the same core factors to check, including the appearance, the layout, the functionality, the accuracy of the translation, cultural appropriateness and legal constraints. With that said, note that testing a website is still a bit different than a software app.

Now that we’ve covered the general stuff, let’s take a look at each testing option separately.

Software Localization Testing

The first thing you need to do before you start full-fledged testing is to test the hardware compatibility of the software product with the target locale. For this, do the following steps:

• Find out which operating systems and browsers are common in the selected region;
• Check that your software product works correctly on all devices of users in the selected locale.

To do this, you can use any service that simulates the work of different browsers and operating systems. 

Only if you are confident that everything is accurate and working properly on a sufficient number of user devices, and the localization of the app will pay off, can you continue working with the selected locale.

After launching the software product, the first questions to pay attention to are:

• Is the correct language loaded by default?
• How accurate are the translations?
• Are the cultural and regional elements in place?
• Are there any obvious UI or UX issues?

Thus, the first thing you should do is perform a high-level review. This is usually the starting point for professionals at a software testing company as TestMatick. Once the major problems are identified and eliminated, you can move on to the next stage.

Now you can study the software product more thoroughly. Pay attention to the following parameters:

• Hotkey adaption. Consider different keyboard layouts and compatibility. For example, if saving in the English keyboard layout is performed after triggering “Alt+S,” you want to make sure that after switching to the locale language, this function will also work;
• Correct font for each language. Check if proper fonts load for different languages. Thus, for English, German, French and Spanish, you can skip this step. Other languages, like Arabic, have their own characters and fonts that must be displayed correctly. Also, make sure there’s enough space provided by the widgets for the translated text;
• Displaying basic elements. Make sure that inscriptions on buttons, menu items and other elements are not cut off or beyond the graphical element. Check the correctness of all transitions and actions by clicking on these elements.

Also, ensure that changing the language in the settings does not change the appearance of the app and that all elements are displayed and functioning properly.

Website Localization Testing 

Testing of a website starts with checking the same parameters as when testing software or an app. Perform a high-level check of translation and cultural acceptability. Also, check if everything is alright with the UI/UX.

Once done, you need to look deeper into the functionality of the website. In doing so, pay attention to the features below:

Check your CTAs 

Make sure your CTAs “sound right” after translation to other languages. 

The main purpose of a CTA is to encourage users to click a link or a button for a specific action. If direct translation decreases the effectiveness of the CTA or looks ridiculous, you should use transcreation.

Transcreation is a combination of translation, copywriting and creativity that describes copywriting content in a source text that needs to be made relevant in a new language. Thus, note that your slogan or CTA may change little in essence but the form can change dramatically.

Transcreation considers the cultural characteristics and communication styles that are close to the target audience. In some cases, not only slogans but also brand names are changed if the target audience may have negative associations.

Localization is also used when targeting new audiences without changing the language. In some cases, to attract a foreign audience, it’s worth using youth slang or, on the contrary, the most polite and restrained expressions.

For example, if you want to test a crypto bot or software, it is relevant to use the appropriate slang in different languages. 

Check Your Hyperlinks

Make sure that hyperlinks work properly in each supported language and lead to the right web pages. You should also make sure that the wording on the translated link is consistent.

Moreover, if you’re planning to promote your website in a new language, it’s important to keep SEO aspects in mind. Thus, make sure that your title tags and meta descriptions are translated correctly.

Is Your Checkout Process Accurate?

For an online store or any eCommerce site, it’s essential to make sure the entire checkout process works properly. Since the process will be different for each localization, you need to:

• Check if all the required fields are available to place an order. For example, in the U.S., the user must specify the state. In some other countries, it’s also the county or region. Your order form should take into account all local peculiarities;
• Price, product description and currency – all these variables should also be checked in terms of the correct translation, and the information should be displayed in a way your target audience is used to;
• Check what happens when someone places an order on the website;
• Check your Thank You page and if it loads properly. This is where your website visitors will be directed after making a purchase or filling out a certain opt-in form on the website. Every user should be able to see the page thanking them for the order in the selected language;
• If your website has a chatbot or other external forms, make sure they all load and work correctly in all supported languages;
• Perform spell-checking on all supported languages for your website. This will help identify simple errors and build a high-quality final product.

Advantages of Localization Testing

Businesses that want to grow and remain competitive must embrace a global perspective. Localization is a great method of communicating with a global audience and increasing your revenue. 

Statistics show that more than 40% of users refuse to buy from online stores where their native language is not available. An even higher percentage of users choose apps with a localized interface.

Why localization testing is beneficial for your business:

• Localization testing helps in the development of software solutions for different regional preferences and cultures. As a result, product popularity and sales increase. Plus, the entire testing process becomes more scalable, and you are able to check the software system more effectively, as well as successfully promote the product to new markets;
• Localization testing helps identify flaws in the product before the release, as well as translation problems, typos and other minor defects. Thus, the quality assurance process is improved and clarified, and any issues are timely identified and eliminated more efficiently. Moreover, such testing provides a complete picture of how the app or website will perform in real situations in the selected regions;
• Localization testing saves time, reduces overall costs and improves the quality of customer interactions. After all, you can offer culturally and personally meaningful things to your clients.

Localization Testing Challenges & Solutions

With all the advantages of localization testing, you may also face some challenges:

• Localization requires resources, studying market dynamics and adapting services to the chosen region. All of this slows down the time-to-market for the product. A possible solution is to add localizations when updating the product;
• Insufficient knowledge of your target audience’s language. In this case, you can use the help of professional translators (native speakers, preferably);
• Localization testing can take a long time, as you will need to study the features of different locales. Local testing teams may be able to help you with this;
• Localization testing may require tons of hardware resources, as doing all tests manually is very expensive and time-consuming, and automated testing is always resource-intensive. However, you can use cloud services (partly or fully).

That said, you need to study all your options in advance. Think through all the pros and cons and consider choosing an online testing service or partially outsourcing your testing. 

Whatever you choose, remember that testers must know and understand your product well. That’s why you should pay special attention to the documentation and guides for testers.