Using the phpBB3.0 Language System

1.1. Using the phpBB3.0 Language System
phpBB3 uses a language system to guarantee easy localisation. All strings presented to the user are first looked up into an internal dictionary. Thus it is also a requirement for MODs to use said system for all output presented to the user. This chapter will show you how to use the language system and how to add your custom entries.

1.1.1. Using the language System in php
The object holding the language dictionary for the current user is - hardly surprising - the  object. We generally refer to the name of the word in the dictionary as language key, to the returned value as language string or language value. Both together are a language entry. By convention, the language key should always be all-uppercase. Language entries are collected in language files.

To lookup a language entry inside of phpBB, query the  object like this: , which will return the language string assigned to the key 'LANG_KEY' in the current user's language. Note that many functions in phpBB automatically translate their arguments; passing the language key as argument is usually enough.


 * Tip
 * The error handler and most functions in phpBB will look up their string arguments automatically.

The dictionary is not held ready all at once, but is split up in several files, which have to be manually loaded on demand. The files are stored inside the language directory, named after its language tag, where one subdirectory is used for each installed language. The default language files are in the root of that subdirectory, while ACP language files go into the /acp subdirectory; files for MODs should be placed in the mods subdirectory. Finally, email templates are placed in the email subdirectory.

Additional language files can be loaded during user setup via the call to the  method at the top of each accessible file. To do so, pass the name with the subdirectory but without extension as argument of setup. For instance  or   or. If you need to add a language file at a later stage, use add_lang, e.g..

A sightly more difficult situation arises when the displayed text should contain links etc. phpBB uses sprintf for that, for instance:

$message .= '

' . sprintf($user->lang['MY_TRICKY_LANGUAGE_KEY'], '', ''); trigger_error($message);

1.1.2. Using the language System in template files
Language entries in templates are a major improvement in phpBB3. There is no longer a need to manually assign these in the php file; loaded language files will be automatically used. To use the language entry with the key "MY_KEY" in a template file, just write  in the template - it's as simple as that.

1.1.3. Add new entries
New language files should always be placed in their own files in the mods subdirectory. There are however a few exceptions, notably log entries and module names. Those need to be placed in their appropriate common.php language file, either in the language's directory or the acp subdirectory.

When writing or editing a language file, make sure to save it using utf-8 encoding without BOM (Byte Order Mark). Otherwise the forum will not function properly. Some editors call that mode "utf8 cookie".


 * Important
 * Always save your language files in utf8 encoding and without BOM.

<?php /**
 * example [English]
 * @package language
 * @version $Id$
 * @copyright (c) 2007 phpBB Group
 * @license http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php GNU Public License
 * @copyright (c) 2007 phpBB Group
 * @license http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php GNU Public License

/** if (empty($lang) || !is_array($lang)) {	$lang = array; }
 * DO NOT CHANGE

// DEVELOPERS PLEASE NOTE // // All language files should use UTF-8 as their encoding and the files must not contain a BOM. // // Placeholders can now contain order information, e.g. instead of // 'Page %s of %s' you can (and should) write 'Page %1$s of %2$s', this allows // translators to re-order the output of data while ensuring it remains correct // // You do not need this where single placeholders are used, e.g. 'Message %d' is fine // equally where a string contains only two placeholders which are used to wrap text // in a url you again do not need to specify an order e.g., 'Click %sHERE%s' is fine

$lang = array_merge($lang, array( 'MY_LANGUAGE_KEY'		=> 'A language entry', 'MY_OTHER_LANGUAGE_KEY'	=> 'Another language entry', 'MY_TRICKY_LANGUAGE_KEY'	=> 'This is a %slink%s', )); ?>