Why is internationalization important in modern programming?

Internationalisation is crucial in modern programming to make software usable and accessible to a global audience.

In today's interconnected world, software applications are not limited to a single geographical location or language. They are used by people from different parts of the world, speaking different languages and following different cultural norms. Therefore, it is essential for modern programming to incorporate internationalisation, which is the process of designing and developing software so that it can be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes.

Internationalisation, often abbreviated as i18n (because there are 18 letters between the 'i' and the 'n'), involves designing software in a way that removes barriers for its usage across different locales. This includes not only translating the user interface but also ensuring that the software can handle text in different languages and scripts, follow local conventions for things like dates, times, and numbers, and comply with local regulations.

For instance, a software application might need to display text right-to-left for languages like Arabic or Hebrew, use different date formats, or sort lists according to different rules. Without internationalisation, each of these changes could require significant reworking of the software, which is both time-consuming and costly.

Moreover, internationalisation is not just about making software usable in different locales, but also about making it feel natural and intuitive to its users. This is where localisation (l10n) comes in, which is the process of adapting the software for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components and translating text.

In essence, internationalisation is about building the global infrastructure for the software, while localisation is about customising it for each locale. Both are crucial for creating software that can truly serve a global audience.

In conclusion, internationalisation is a vital aspect of modern programming. It not only broadens the potential user base of software applications but also enhances the user experience by making the software more accessible and user-friendly. As the world becomes increasingly globalised, the importance of internationalisation in programming is only set to increase.