A stand-in element that replaces content during production and testing to keep texts structured until the final data is added.
A placeholder is a symbol, word, or piece of text that stands in for real data until the final content is available. It represents a variable and can be later replaced by the actual value programmatically.
Placeholders maintain proper structure and formatting before inserting actual information. They are widely used in programming, design, and localization to represent names, dates, or other dynamic elements.
In localization and internationalization, placeholders are particularly important for managing variable content, ensuring that the translated text maintains the correct format and functionality. For instance, when translating software, placeholders may represent user names, dates, different plurals and gender variations, or other dynamic elements that change based on user interaction. Different localization systems use varying syntax for placeholders.
Placeholders can also help in maintaining the integrity of the design during the development process. By providing a visual cue of where content will be placed, they allow teams to focus on layout and functionality without being distracted by incomplete content.
English: "Your appointment is on {date} at {time}."
German: "Ihr Termin ist am {date} um {time}."
English: "You have {count} new messages."
Spanish: "Tienes {count} mensajes nuevos."
English: "Total price: {amount} {currency}."
Japanese: "合計金額: {amount}{currency}。"
English: "Merci, {user}, pour votre don." (neutral)
French:
"Merci, {user}, pour ton don généreux." (masculine)"Merci, {user}, pour ton don généreuse."(feminine)Localazy detects placeholders to prevent translation mistakes and preserve sentence structure across multiple languages. Check our documentation for further details.