Supported Formats
Tolgee supports various formats, which you can use with different programming languages, frameworks or technologies. You can import and export data in the formats listed below.
Before you start working with imports and exports, you should get familiar with the concept of Tolgee Universal ICU placeholders.
Support for most of the formats below was added in v3.49.0. If you are using an older version, please update.
Generic formats
Various message & placeholder formats are supported for import and export in generic formats. Generic formats are Structured JSON, XLIFF, Gettext .po, .properties and YAML.
Tolgee native JSON
JSON format is native for Tolgee JS SDKs. In the native JSON, we use the ICU message format. When importing to or importing from, nothing is converted, and the ICU message format is usually preserved (except in special plural cases). Read more.
Structured JSON (Generic)
Structured JSON is also a simple JSON file format with no additional data like comments, but it can be structured, and eventually, you can use it with array support. Read more.
XLIFF (Generic)
XLIFF format is a standard format for translation exchange. It is widely used in the industry. For XLIFF format, we preserve the ICU message format as stored in Tolgee. Read more.
Gettext .po (Generic)
Gettext format is popular in the PHP or C++ world but can also be used in Java or Ruby. Read more.
.properties (Generic)
Java properties format is used mostly for the localization of Java applications, especially Spring-based apps. It is a simple key-value format. Read more.
Structured YAML (Generic)
Structured YAML enables you to export data with nesting, and it has array support. Read more.
To export/import data in Ruby On Rails, go for Ruby YAML format.
Apple Strings (.strings, .stringsdict)
Apple strings format is used in Apple platforms. It is used for localization of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS applications.
We recommend using this since it's currently the most flexible format for Apple platforms. Using .strings &
.stringsdict, you can also modify the base translation values. Read more.
Apple Xliff (.xliff)
Apple Xliff format is a specific format for translation exchange, and it's convenient for translators using other platforms.
However, Apple is very strict while importing data from .xliff back, so it's not possible to modify the base strings
with this format. Because of that, we recommend going with .strings & .stringsdict if you can. Read more.
Apple String Catalog (.xcstrings)
We currently don't support importing/exporting String Catalog .xcstrings directly, but you can translate String Catalogs via
.xliff import/export. Read more.
Android resources XML (.xml)
Android resources XML format is used to localize Android applications. We support all the features of the format, including plurals and arrays Read more.
Flutter (.arb)
Flutter .arb format is used for localization of Flutter applications. It is a JSON-based format with a specific structure. With Tolgee, you're able to import and export .arb files. Read more.
Ruby on Rails (.yaml)
Ruby YAML is structured in YAML format with array support specific to Ruby on Rails applications. Read more.