i18n vs. i18next

i18n stands for "internationalization," which is the process of designing and developing a software application or website in a way that allows it to be easily adapted for different languages and regions without requiring significant changes to the underlying code. This involves separating the user interface strings, date formats, currency symbols, and other locale-specific elements from the main codebase. Instead of hardcoding these elements, developers use placeholders that can be replaced with the appropriate values based on the user's language and location.

i18next, on the other hand, is a specific JavaScript library that helps developers implement internationalization in their applications. It provides tools and features to manage translations, handle pluralization, manage language fallbacks, and more. i18next makes it easier for developers to implement internationalization best practices without having to build these features from scratch.

In essence, i18n is a broader concept that refers to the practice of adapting software for different languages and regions, while i18next is a specific tool or library that facilitates the implementation of internationalization within JavaScript-based applications. It's like i18next is a tool that helps you achieve i18n in your projects.

When using i18next, you generally integrate it into your codebase and configure it to handle various aspects of internationalization. It provides an API that allows you to load and switch between different translations, manage placeholders, and handle other localization-related tasks.

In summary, i18n is the concept of making software adaptable to different languages and regions, while i18next is a specific library that aids in implementing this concept within JavaScript applications.