# I18n lifecycles

Plugins use these lifecycles to load i18n-related data.

## `getTranslationFiles({content})`

Plugins declare the JSON translation files they want to use.

Returns translation files `{path: string, content: ChromeI18nJSON}`:

- `path`: relative to the plugin localized folder `i18n/[locale]/[pluginName]`. Extension `.json` should be omitted to remain generic.
- `content`: using the Chrome i18n JSON format.

These files will be written by the [`write-translations` CLI](/guides/cli#docusaurus-write-translations-sitedir) to the plugin i18n subfolder, and will be read in the appropriate locale before calling [`translateContent()`](#translateContent) and [`translateThemeConfig()`](#translateThemeConfig)

Example:

```js title="my-plugin.js" {4-17}
export default function (context, options) {
  return {
    name: 'my-plugin',
    async getTranslationFiles({content}) {
      return [
        {
          path: 'sidebar-labels',
          content: {
            someSidebarLabel: {
              message: 'Some Sidebar Label',
              description: 'A label used in my plugin in the sidebar',
            },
            someLabelFromContent: content.myLabel,
          },
        },
      ];
    },
  };
}
```

## `translateContent({content,translationFiles})`

Translate the plugin content, using the localized translation files.

Returns the localized plugin content.

The `contentLoaded()` lifecycle will be called with the localized plugin content returned by `translateContent()`.

Example:

```js title="my-plugin.js" {4-12}
export default function (context, options) {
  return {
    name: 'my-plugin',
    translateContent({content, translationFiles}) {
      const myTranslationFile = translationFiles.find(
        (f) => f.path === 'myTranslationFile',
      );
      return {
        ...content,
        someContentLabel: myTranslationFile.someContentLabel.message,
      };
    },
  };
}
```

## `translateThemeConfig({themeConfig,translationFiles})`

Translate the site `themeConfig` labels, using the localized translation files.

Returns the localized `themeConfig`.

Example:

```js title="my-plugin.js" {4-12}
export default function (context, options) {
  return {
    name: 'my-theme',
    translateThemeConfig({themeConfig, translationFiles}) {
      const myTranslationFile = translationFiles.find(
        (f) => f.path === 'myTranslationFile',
      );
      return {
        ...themeConfig,
        someThemeConfigLabel: myTranslationFile.someThemeConfigLabel.message,
      };
    },
  };
}
```

## `async getDefaultCodeTranslationMessages()`

Themes using the `<Translate>` API can provide default code translation messages.

It should return messages in `Record<string, string>`, where keys are translation IDs and values are messages (without the description) localized using the site's current locale.

Example:

```js title="my-plugin.js" {4-6}
export default function (context, options) {
  return {
    name: 'my-theme',
    async getDefaultCodeTranslationMessages() {
      return readJsonFile(`${context.i18n.currentLocale}.json`);
    },
  };
}
```

## Related pages

- [Lifecycle APIs](./api-plugin-methods-lifecycle-apis.md)
- [Extending infrastructure](./api-plugin-methods-extend-infrastructure.md)
- [Static methods](./api-plugin-methods-static-methods.md)

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