How do you test for internationalization and localization?

i18n
l10n
internationalization
localization

Your answer

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Model answer

Internationalization (i18n) testing: (1) Verify all user-facing strings are externalized, not hardcoded. (2) Test with long strings (German is ~30% longer than English). (3) Right-to-left (RTL) layout for Arabic, Hebrew. (4) Date, time, currency, and number formatting per locale. (5) Character encoding: test with CJK characters, emojis, special characters. Localization (l10n) testing: (6) Verify translations are accurate and contextually appropriate. (7) Test locale switching without data loss. (8) Verify images and icons are culturally appropriate.

What interviewers listen for

Risk-based prioritisation
You can defend skipping coverage on a path because the risk maths supports it.
Test design fluency
You apply equivalence partitioning and decision tables to concrete inputs in real time.
Metric judgment
You distinguish between metrics that drive learning and metrics that drive theatre.
Strategy under constraint
You can produce a defensible plan when the team has half the time and twice the scope.

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