How can you design iOS apps for multiple languages?

1 Use Auto Layout

Auto Layout is a system that lets you define how your app's user interface elements should be arranged and resized according to the screen size and orientation. It also helps you to create flexible layouts that can adjust to different text lengths and directions. For example, you can use Auto Layout constraints to specify how much space, alignment, and priority each element should have, or how they should relate to each other. You can also use stack views to group and distribute elements horizontally or vertically. Auto Layout is essential for designing iOS apps that can support multiple languages, especially those that have different writing systems, such as Arabic or Hebrew, which are read from right to left.

2 Use Localization and Internationalization

Localization and internationalization are two processes that enable your app to support multiple languages and regions. Localization is the process of translating and customizing your app's content, such as text, images, audio, and date and number formats, for a specific language and region. Internationalization is the process of preparing your app's code and resources to be compatible with different languages and regions. For example, you can use NSLocalizedString and NSLocalizedStringWithDefaultValue functions to retrieve localized strings from your app's bundle, or use NSLocale and NSFormatter classes to format dates, numbers, and currencies according to the user's region. You can also use Asset Catalogs and Image Sets to manage different versions of images for different languages and regions.

3 Use Dynamic Type

Dynamic Type is a feature that allows users to adjust the text size of your app according to their preferences. It also ensures that your app's text can adapt to different accessibility settings, such as Bold Text and Larger Text. To use Dynamic Type, you need to use the system fonts or the custom fonts that support it, and assign them to your text elements using the Text Styles. You can also use the UIFontMetrics class to scale your custom fonts according to the Text Styles. Dynamic Type is important for designing iOS apps that can support multiple languages, because it allows your app's text to be readable and comfortable for users with different vision needs and preferences.

4 Use SF Symbols

SF Symbols are a set of over 2,400 icons that are designed to integrate seamlessly with the system fonts and the iOS design language. They are also scalable and adaptable to different weights and sizes. You can use SF Symbols to provide consistent and familiar icons for your app's features and actions, without worrying about creating or importing your own images. You can also use SF Symbols to support multiple languages, because they are localized for 45 languages and regions, and they automatically flip their direction for right-to-left languages. You can access SF Symbols from the SF Symbols app, or use the UIImage(systemName:) initializer to create them programmatically.

5 Test Your App

Testing your app is the final step to ensure that your app's design works well for multiple languages and regions. You can use the Xcode's scheme editor to change the application language and region of your app, and run it on different simulators or devices. You can also use the Preview feature in SwiftUI to see how your app's layout and content look for different languages and regions, without running your app. Testing your app can help you to spot and fix any issues or errors that might occur due to different text lengths, directions, formats, or cultural contexts.