Best way to detect browser language?

[Pixelateur]

Hi,

I have a website in two languages, English and German:

www.website.com/en/
www.website.com/de/

How can I make sure that each visitor is sent to the correct language version? I've been doing quite a bit of searching but can't decide between a javascript or php based solution.

I need a script that detects the user's browser language and then immediately renders the website in his/her language. However, the user should also be given the opportunity to switch to the other language should s/he wish to.

Any ideas on how to implement this?

[Mittineague]

When a browser makes an HTTP request it sends headers. You could try using
$_SERVER["HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE"] and $_SERVER["HTTP_ACCEPT_CHARSET"])

[wwb_99]

Honestly, the best way is to:

1) pick a language which the majority of your users use and make this the default
2) put a clear indication of how to switch languages in the site navigation

Trying to auto-detect can get very annoying for people who are, say, visiting a foreign country and keep getting served pages in arabic they can't even begin to comprehend.

[Pixelateur]

Hi wwb_99,

You are right of course. On every page there will be a switch language button in the top right corner, so people can easily switch to their preferred language at any time. However, the very first time someone visits my site, it should be served in his/her system language. I think this makes total sense, not least because the chances of getting it right are pretty high actually. So what would be the best way to do it?

[kyberfabrikken]

As Mittineague said, the HTTP-request may contain a header "Accept-Language", which specifies a list of languages, in order of preference. Set a cookie, when you have decided, so that the next time the user comes back, you use the cookie instead. That way, people have to switch language once.

[AutisticCuckoo]

Originally Posted by kyberfabrikken

As Mittineague said, the HTTP-request may contain a header "Accept-Language", which specifies a list of languages, in order of preference.

Just to clarify: the languages do not necessarily occur in the preferred order. Rather, each language may have an associated quality value ('q' value) between 0.000 and 1.000. An omitted q value is the same as q=1.000.

A sample header can look like this,

Accept-Language: en-GB, sv;q=0.7, en;q=0.9

The preferred order is,

1. en-GB (q=1.0)
2. en (q=0.9)
3. sv (q=0.7)

[mr.vain]

I've implemented this in the following way:


1) Detect the BrowserLanguages
2) Check that this Languages exists in your system
3a) Set this Language to the user session
3b) Set a Language via URL (forced)
4) Include the translated file

Source:
http://svn.gna.org/viewcvs/clansuite...49&view=markup

Feedback appreciated. Regards, v