Localization testing is not the first thing that a development team is concerned about initially. But this step is an essential stage that should be included in the software development lifecycle. As the world has become digitized at a rapid pace, it has become a global village. The success of a mobile app lies in the often overlooked but crucial aspect of mobile app security testing, i.e., localization. Content through mobile apps is consumed by users from diverse backgrounds consisting of different languages, cultures, and user preferences, which has made adapting the app to such aspects necessary.
Let’s take a closer look at why localization testing is an essential step and why you need it for the success of your mobile app.
What is Localization Testing? Example Test Cases & Checklist
The first question that may pop up in your head is this: What is localization testing? Localization testing is a process that verifies that the content of your mobile app complies with the target language, local culture, and regional requirements of the particular locale. In simple terms, localization testing ensures that your app is culturally appropriate, and that the software complies with specific languages in each region.
Localization efforts help adapt an app or new software for new markets outside of the home country. This includes text translation to target languages, but that’s not all. Localization also involves ensuring that the entire user interface is adapted so that it feels authentic to the target audience.
Let’s look at the user test cases for the localization testing process.
• Glossaries are available for reference and checking.
• Date and time format for different regions.
• Currency formats for specific regions.
• Text content layout for error-free, font independence, and line alignment.
• Special characters, hyperlinks, and hotkeys functionality.
• Validation messages for input fields.
• Ensure that the localized screen has the same elements as the source product.
• Ensure that the localized user interface is comparable to the source user interface in the target operating systems and testing environment.
When to Perform Localization Testing?
Localization ensures that apps developed for international use have good functionality with a competitive advantage. Suppose you want to create an app that is to be available in English and a few other local languages like Hindi or Tamil for a target market. You have hired language translators to translate text who have provided impeccable translation quality for your text. However, you find that certain characters in a particular language exceed the size available in the app, or the date and time format is not complying properly. Localization testing helps remove these barriers to make the user interface of the app livelier and more attractive to the target audience.
5 Localization Testing Best Practices Checklist
It is evident that when you have a localization testing strategy at hand to begin with, the rest of the process runs smoothly, and you end up with a professionally executed app with significantly better results. So, here are five keyways to test the localization process to enhance the user experience in your app and test your software product with regional settings.
Plan & Analyse
Start with a thorough project analysis, compile all available information, objectives, and requirements for your software applications. Create localization tests accordingly with the finest degree of precision.
Build Verification Testing
Before you even begin your localization testing efforts, it’s important to perform build verification testing. By checking all the elements of the software product, it tests the stability of the app.
Conduct Initial Testing
In the initial version of the app testing, it should be tested against multiple test cases. Design test cases to check if the app is working correctly and run test cases to check all the UI elements and ensure all the defects are documented and resolved.
Perform Regression Testing
When a bug has been identified, developers must resolve it. Through regression testing, it is tested that the changes made don’t affect the functionality of the app.
Sign-off & Report
This step is an essential part of the localization testing process, ensuring not only the success of linguistic testing but also the completion of the quality assurance process. After it has been done, a report with the test results is finally delivered.
Advantages of Localization Testing
Here are four key reasons why localization testing is important for your app or user interface with respect to cultural appropriateness.
Avoid Embarrassing Mistranslations
Without an adequate localization testing strategy and process, there may be mistakes in translation in the supported languages. Even big brands can make significant translation errors that may affect their impression and reach a global audience. Proper testing catches such mistakes through testing early.
More Growth & Conversions
Poor content with typographical errors could deter customers from trying your products or services. Many people prefer using apps that are in their native languages. With localization testing, you can bring flawlessly tailored localized content to the target market.
Global Scalability
When you make localization a priority, you can ensure global scalability through the software design and testing process. You can keep building, testing, and releasing further updates with more localized content to get a firm grasp in the local market of a particular region.
Building Credibility & Trust
When it comes to trading on an e-commerce website at a global scale, building trust and credibility for foreign brands with a new audience can be tough. But with localization testing of your content, you can ensure that you appeal to your new audience and grow your business in new places.
Challenges of Localization Testing
Ignoring localization testing can lead to miscommunication, and it may create a bad impression for your app. Here are some ways in which it can backfire on you if you are not using localization testing before launching your software applications at a global scale.
Language/Communication Barriers
Ignoring localization testing can make users feel greatly disconnected from the app or its products/services when they don’t speak the language of the users.
Cultural Sensitivity
Respecting the different cultural norms, values and preferences falls within the scope of localization strategy. Ignoring this during localization testing may lead to failure of the app’s success.
Market Competition
If your app fails to make the cut, users will naturally gravitate towards apps that fulfill their requirements. So, ignoring localization testing would throw you off the competitive market.
How to Automate Localization Testing
If your project is significant and requires frequent localization testing, you can opt for automation testing:
• Choose an automation tool to write tests.
• Consider scenarios for localization testing.
• Write scripts accordingly.
• Collect results and report accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Localization testing is a common part of software engineering that ensures the product behaves according to local cultural norms. Testers should verify major affected areas such as localized content and UI by testing for typographical errors, cultural appropriateness of UI, linguistic errors, etc.
As a provider of top-notch localization services, Lingual Consultancy stands out for its commitment to excellence and its ability to deliver high-quality solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. With expertise and dedication, Lingual Consultancy ensures that mobile apps are not just translated, but effectively localized for maximum impact in target markets worldwide.
