Quick Tutorial: Creating Language Files in Laravel

Follow these steps to set up multi-language support in your Laravel app using language files.

Step 1: Organize Language Files

1. Locate Language Directory: In Laravel, language files are stored in the resources/lang directory.
2. Create Language Folders: For each language you want to support, create a folder inside resources/lang:

• For English, create resources/lang/en
• For Arabic, create resources/lang/ar

Step 2: Create Language Files

Inside each language folder, create files to store your translations. Let’s start by creating a messages.php file for both languages.

• English File: resources/lang/en/messages.php

   <?php
   return [
       'welcome' => 'Welcome to our website!',
       'verify_accreditation' => 'I verify that I am an accredited user and I am using this at my own responsibility.',
   ];

• Arabic File: resources/lang/ar/messages.php

   <?php
   return [
       'welcome' => 'مرحبًا بكم في موقعنا!',
       'verify_accreditation' => 'أؤكد أنني مستخدم معتمد وأتحمل مسؤولية استخدامي لهذا.',
   ];

Each key-value pair represents a text string in your app. Use the same keys in both language files, so Laravel can retrieve the appropriate translation based on the current language setting.

Step 3: Use Translation Strings in Views

In your Blade templates, replace hardcoded text with the @lang or __() functions to display translated strings. For example:

<!-- This will output the translated 'welcome' message based on the current language setting -->
<p>@lang('messages.welcome')</p>

Alternatively, you can use the __() helper function:

<p>{{ __('messages.welcome') }}</p>

Now your app will show different text depending on the selected language!