Core Java Internationalization

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Internationalization in Java SE 6 has ease the way to deal with more locale-specific features.

Internationalization is the process of designing software so that it can be adapted (localized) to various languages without engineering changes to the software. Localization is performed by simply adding locale-specific components, such as translated text, data describing locale-specific behavior, fonts, and input methods.

Java SE 6 provides developers more control over how they can access and use locale-sensitive resources in their applications. Java SE 6 provides the following major enhancements to its internationalization support:

Resource control and access

Locale-sensitive services

Text normalization

International domain name support

Japanese imperial calendar support

Resource Control and Access

To provide localized resources in applications, programmers should use resource bundles as defined by the java.util.ResourceBundle class. This class initiates the searching and loading of localized resources when you invoke its static getBundle method. The method returns a ResourceBundle instance that is responsible for providing the localized text, images, and other elements for a target locale. The class defines a set of callback methods that are invoked by the "ResourceBundle.getBundle" factory during the resource bundle loading. Applications can override those callback methods to change the factory method behavior. A locale is a cultural identifier defined by a language and geographical region.

Locale Sensitive Services SPIs

To enable plug-in of locale sensitive data (e.g. date format strings) and services (e.g. date formatters), some Service Provider Interfaces (SPIs) for locale-sensitive classes in the java.text and java.util packages have been added. These SPIs make it much easier for developers to provide support of more locales in addition to the currently available locals in Java SE.

Unicode Normalizer API

The new java.text.Normalizer class supports the Unicode text normalization.

Internationalized Domain Names Support

The new java.net.IDN class provides Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) support based on RFC 3490, 3491, 3454, and 3492.

Japanese Imperial Calendar Support

A new Calendar implementation has been added to support the Japanese imperial era-based year numbering, such as Heisei 17 for 2005 (Gregorian). An instance of this Japanese imperial calendar can be created through the Calendar.getInstance factory by specifying a Locale("ja", "JP", "JP") . The java.text.SimpleDateFormat class now supports calendar specific eras and date formats for non-Gregorian calendar systems.