About Localization

Localization is the process of adapting content for different locales. When you localize an entry, it no longer inherits values from its fallback language and becomes an independent version.

Unlocalized entries inherit content from their fallback locale. To make changes specific to a locale, you must first localize the entry. This is done by saving the entry in the target locale.

Once localized, the entry becomes independent and can have its own content, version history, and publishing status.

When an entry is localized:

• The inheritance from the master or fallback locale is removed.
• A separate, independent copy of the entry is created.
• The structure remains the same as the original entry, but the content can differ.
• The localized entry maintains its own versioning and publishing lifecycle.

As shown in the diagram below, localizing an entry breaks the inheritance chain between master, fallback, and child entries, resulting in a standalone localized version.

Click to enlarge

Once an entry has been localized, you can also unlocalize it at any time to restore inheritance from the fallback locale.

Localization determines how content is returned in Delivery API responses across locales and environments. This is particularly important when building frontend applications or debugging content issues.

• If no locale is specified in the request, content is returned in the master locale.
• If a locale is specified, content is returned for that localized entry (if it is published).
• If the specified locale is not published, you can use include_fallback=true to return content from the configured fallback locale.
• To verify publish status across locales and environments, use include_publish_details=true.

Note Fallback behavior works only if a fallback locale is configured in your stack.

Because localization creates independent versions of entries, content and publish status can vary across locales.

Before troubleshooting missing or incorrect localized content, ensure that:

• The entry is localized in the target locale.
• The localized entry is saved and published.
• The entry is published to the correct environment.
• The API request includes the correct locale.
• If fallback behavior is expected, include_fallback=true is included in the request.

Use this request to retrieve content for a specific locale:

curl -sS "https://<cdn-host>/v3/content_types/<content_type_uid>/entries/<entry_uid>?environment=<environment>&locale=fr-fr" \
 -H "api_key: <stack_api_key>" \
 -H "access_token: <delivery_token>"

Use this when the localized version may not be published:

curl -sS "https://<cdn-host>/v3/content_types/<content_type_uid>/entries/<entry_uid>?environment=<environment>&locale=fr-fr&include_fallback=true" \
 -H "api_key: <stack_api_key>" \
 -H "access_token: <delivery_token>"

Use this to debug publish status across locales and environments:

curl -sS "https://<cdn-host>/v3/content_types/<content_type_uid>/entries/<entry_uid>?environment=<environment>&locale=fr-fr&include_publish_details=true" \
 -H "api_key: <stack_api_key>" \
 -H "access_token: <delivery_token>"