Quick Tip: How to Translate a WordPress Plugin Description

Key Points

• To make the WordPress plugin support multilingual translation, the developer needs to generate a POT file containing all the strings used in the plugin. The POT file also includes the plugin name, its website URL, and description.
• In order to use translation, the developer must indicate its existence to WordPress. This is done in the plugin description comment in the plugin main file. Two new entries must be added to this comment: "Text Domain" and "Domain Path".
• Translation of WordPress plugin descriptions can significantly improve the visibility and coverage of the plugin, allowing non-English users to understand its features. However, to ensure the quality of the translated plugin description, it is recommended to use a dedicated WordPress translation plugin or a professional translation service.

It would be great if you developed a useful plugin for WordPress – but it would be even better if you could get users who speak other languages ​​to access your plugin as well.

The good news is that you can easily make your plugin support translation. This way, it can be available in many different languages.

However, there is one detail that plugin developers don't always translate: descriptions of plugins. In this quick tip, I will explain how to translate this description.

Let the user translate your plugin description

To make your plugin support translation, you need to generate a POT file. This file contains all the strings you use in the plugin. To translate the plugin into a specific language, you can create a PO file from this POT file and then translate each string one by one.

By default, the POT file not only contains strings you use with specific functions such as __() or _e(), but also contains three additional strings: the plugin name, the URL of the plugin website, and the description of the plugin.

This means that by default, contributors can translate this information. But there is a problem - unless you indicate to WordPress the existence of these translations, they won't be used.

To do this, please return to the WordPress comment describing your plugin. This comment is located in the plugin's main file and is required, and WordPress uses it to learn about the plugin's name and other useful information.

In this comment, some information needs to be provided, but you can also choose to add some optional information. In this list of optional information, we found the text field your plugin uses to localize, and the path to the folder that contains the localized files.

This annotation is a series of key/value associations. For example, here are the notes used by my plugin WP Photo Sphere previous version:

<?php /*
Plugin Name: WP Photo Sphere
Plugin URI: http://jeremyheleine.me
Description: A filter that displays 360×180 degree panoramas. Please read the readme file for instructions.
Version: 2.0
Author: Jérémy Heleine
Author URI: http://jeremyheleine.me
License: MIT
*/
?>

The POT files generated for these versions contain descriptions. However, since the text field used by WP Photo Sphere is not mentioned in the comments, the translation described is not used.

The following are newer notes I've used since I launched several versions:

<?php /*
Plugin Name: WP Photo Sphere
Plugin URI: http://jeremyheleine.me
Description: A filter that displays 360×180 degree panoramas. Please read the readme file for instructions.
Version: 2.0
Author: Jérémy Heleine
Author URI: http://jeremyheleine.me
License: MIT
*/
?>

You can see two new entries: "Text Domain" and "Domain Path". The value to indicate in "Text Field" is the text field that your plugin uses, i.e. the text field you loaded in the plugin using load_plugin_textdomain(). A path must be filled in for the "Domain Path" entry. In this entry, the root directory is the folder of your plugin. You must indicate a subdirectory of this folder, that is, a subdirectory containing all the required MO files.

If you use these entries, and translations of plugin description are provided in the current language, these translations will be used. If needed, you can also use a translation of the plugin name (just not delete the corresponding entries in the POT file!). As mentioned above, the plugin's URL can also be translated. This is useful if you provide multiple language versions of this page and use parameters in the URL. For example, you can indicate http://myplugin.com as the default URL for the plugin and http://myplugin.com/fr as the URL for the French user.

Conclusion

WordPress provides all the tools you need to translate the entire plugin (even its name or description). However, since "text domain" and "domain path" are not required in plugin title comments, developers often forget them.

Now you can translate the description of the plugin and describe to all users around the world what it does and why it is great!

FAQs (FAQs) about Translation WordPress Plugin Description

How to translate my WordPress plugin description into multiple languages?

You can use the various translation plugins available on WordPress to translate your WordPress plugin description into multiple languages. These plugins (such as GTranslate and TranslatePress) allow you to translate plugin descriptions into different languages. You simply install the plugin, configure the settings to your preferred language, and then apply the translation to your plugin description.

What are the benefits of translating my WordPress plugin description?

Translation of your WordPress plugin description into multiple languages ​​can significantly improve plugin visibility and coverage. It allows non-English users to understand the functionality of plug-ins, thereby increasing their chances of downloading and using plug-ins. It also enhances user experience and satisfaction, which can lead to positive reviews and higher plugin ratings.

Can I use Google Translate to translate my WordPress plugin description?

While Google Translate is a powerful text translation tool, it does not always provide the most accurate translation of technical terms and phrases commonly used in plug-in descriptions. Therefore, it is recommended to use a dedicated WordPress translation plug-in or a professional translation service to ensure the accuracy and quality of the translation.

How to ensure the quality of my translation plugin description?

To ensure the quality of the translation's plugin description, you can hire professional translators who are native speakers of the target language. They can provide accurate translations and understand the cultural nuances of the language. In addition, you can use translation plug-ins that provide professional translation services.

Can I translate my WordPress plugin description by myself?

If you are proficient in the target language, you can translate the WordPress plugin description yourself. However, please note that accurate translation of technical terms and phrases requires a deep understanding of the source and target languages. Therefore, unless you have confidence in your translation skills, it is recommended to use a professional translation service or plug-in.

What are the free WordPress translation plugins?

Yes, there are some free WordPress translation plugins available, such as GTranslate and TranslatePress. These plugins provide basic translation capabilities that are sufficient to translate your plugin description. However, for more advanced features and professional translation services, you may need to upgrade to its premium version.

How to add a language switcher in my WordPress plugin?

You can add a language switcher in your WordPress plugin using the translation plugin that provides this feature. You can configure the settings of the plugin to display a language switcher on your plugin page, allowing users to select their preferred language.

Can I translate my WordPress plugin description into any language?

Most WordPress translation plugins support multiple languages, allowing you to translate plugin descriptions into almost any language. However, the availability of some languages ​​may depend on the specific plugin you are using. Therefore, it is recommended to check the plugin's language support before using the plugin for translation.

How to update the translation of my WordPress plugin description?

You can update the translation of the WordPress plugin description through the translation plugin you are using. Most plugins allow you to edit and update translations directly from the plugin settings. However, if you are using a professional translation service, you may need to contact a service provider to update the translation.

Will translating my WordPress plugin description affect its performance?

Translation of your WordPress plugin description should not significantly affect the performance of the plugin. However, using a translation plugin may add some extra load to your website, which may slightly affect its performance. Therefore, it is important to choose a lightweight and optimized translation plugin to minimize any potential performance impact.

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