The best way to implement multi-language PHP

Question

First of all, I know that there is a lot of answers about multi-language functionality, I didn't find the answer for what I want.

I thought about three ways that I can work with. I need to create the languages files using PHP each time I'm adding a new value to a web form interface.

The first two are kind of similar - using arrays or defines in a specific language file and include it on the start of the run. But in this case I might load thousands of definitions or arrays just to use a few in each page.

The third way is to create function that is called each time with the keyword or the full phrase and using IF-s or switch to choose the right term (or returning the key called if no match).

What is the best way to do that? I decided to do some tests. I tried three different ways and measured the time and memory took for it:

1. I defined an array (22 values) with and run over it from 1 to 1,000,000 - checked for calling value - 1 of three by using the % operator to choose what to use and just setting it on a variable

   • Time took: 0.476591110229 second
   • Memory: 6536 bytes

2. I used the same array (22 values) and called it using function - return $arr[$string]; (just for convenient way to work and the ability to change it to different way if I'll need)

   • Time took: 0.960635185242 second
   • Memory: 6704 bytes

3. I created a function with list of strings and using switch-->case I chose the returning string

   • Time took: 1.46953487396 second
   • Memory: 848 bytes

Well, now the question is what's the right choice - preferring time or preferring memory.

And in case that the sites are big and it would take a lot of memory - I couldn't change it because it is built with arrays - If it works with function I can always change it.

Answer 1

In terms of code, something like this will be great to you. It must be based in the choice of the user (Choosing a language from a button or menu) or based on the browse language (it is not the best aprouch).

index.php

<?php

// verify the user's choice
if ($_POST[lang] == "en") 
{
    include_once("en_language.php");
}

if ($_POST[lang] == "pt") 
{
    include_once("pt_language.php");
}

// calling a lable in your page
echo LABEL_MENU;


// the rest of your file
...
?>

en_language.php

<?php
// ENGISH Language file
define('LABEL_MENU','Main Menu');

// the whole file with the labels of your system

?>

pt_language.php

<?php
// PORTUGUESE Language file
define('LABEL_MENU','Menu Principal');

// the whole file with the labels of your system

?>

complementing

If you wish use array type than Constant values with define(), but I'm not sure what is faster than..

$arrays = array("MAIN_MENU" => "Main Menu", "LEFT_MENU" => "Left Menu"); 
echo $arrays["MAIN_MENU"];

Answer 2

Group your strings into categories - one global and the other - corresponding to the views you have in the web site (for example lang_global, lang_profile, lang_something_else) Include the global file and the file corresponding to the current view. In this way you won't load the entire translation, but only a subset of it. And it is more managable, and you can provide context, having different translations on the same string.

Answer 3

there's some useful answer here, but i would also recommend symfony/translation if you are using composer as a dependency manager.

lang/messages.fr.yaml :

Hello, %name%!: Bonjour, %name%!
Goodbye: Goodbye!

lang/messages.en.yaml :

Hello, %name%!: Hello, %name%!

file.php :

<?php
use Symfony\Component\Translation\Translator;
use Symfony\Component\Translation\Translator\Loader\YamlFileLoader;

require_once __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';

$translator = new Translator();

$translator->addLoader('yaml', new YamlFileLoader());
$translator->addResource('yaml', __DIR__ . 'lang/messages.en.yaml', 'en');
$translator->addResource('yaml', __DIR__ . 'lang/messages.fr.yaml', 'fr');

$translator->setFallbackLocales(array('en'));

$translator->setLocale('en');

echo $translator->translate('Hello, %name%!', ['name' => 'saif']); // Hello, saif!

$translator->setLocale('fr');

echo $translator->translate('Hello, %name%!', ['name' => 'saif']); // Bonjour, saif!
// Goodbye isn't set in the "fr" file, translator uses the fallback locale instead
echo $translator->translate('Goodbye'); // Goodbye !

read more on how to use the symfony translator component here.