# Language Plugin Reference

## Overview

The language plugin provides URL-based internationalization (i18n) support for FolderWeb. It enables multi-language sites with language-specific URLs, content files, slugs, and translations.

## Configuration

### Basic Setup

Add language configuration to `custom/config.ini`:

```ini
[languages]
default = "en"           # Default language (no URL prefix)
available = "en,no,fr"   # Comma-separated list of languages
```

Enable the plugin:

```ini
[plugins]
enabled = "languages"
```

## URL Structure

The plugin modifies URL behavior based on language:

- **Default language**: `/about/` (no prefix)
- **Other languages**: `/no/about/`, `/fr/about/`

The language code is extracted from the URL and removed from the request path before routing.

## How It Works

### 1. URL Language Extraction (CONTEXT_READY Hook)

When a request arrives, the plugin:

1. Reads language config from `config.ini`
2. Checks if URL starts with a language code
3. If non-default language found, removes it from path
4. Stores language data in context

**Example:**
```
URL: /no/about/contact/
↓
Language extracted: "no"
Path updated to: about/contact/
Context stores: currentLang="no", langPrefix="/no"
```

**Implementation:**
```php
Hooks::add(Hook::CONTEXT_READY, function(Context $ctx, array $config) {
    $defaultLang = $config['languages']['default'] ?? 'en';
    $availableLangs = explode(',', $config['languages']['available'] ?? 'en');
    
    $pathParts = explode('/', $ctx->requestPath);
    $currentLang = $defaultLang;
    
    // Extract language prefix if present
    if (!empty($pathParts[0]) && in_array($pathParts[0], $availableLangs)) {
        if ($pathParts[0] !== $defaultLang) {
            $currentLang = array_shift($pathParts);
            // Update request path
            $reflection = new ReflectionProperty($ctx, 'requestPath');
            $reflection->setValue($ctx, implode('/', $pathParts));
        }
    }
    
    // Store in context
    $ctx->set('currentLang', $currentLang);
    $ctx->set('defaultLang', $defaultLang);
    $ctx->set('availableLangs', $availableLangs);
    $ctx->set('langPrefix', $currentLang !== $defaultLang ? "/$currentLang" : '');
    $ctx->set('translations', loadTranslations($currentLang));
    
    return $ctx;
});
```

### 2. Content Filtering (PROCESS_CONTENT Hook)

The plugin filters content in three ways:

#### A. Metadata Merging

Language-specific metadata sections are merged into base metadata:

**metadata.ini:**
```ini
title = "Contact"
slug = "contact"

[no]
title = "Kontakt"
slug = "kontakt"
```

When viewing Norwegian version, metadata becomes:
```php
[
    'title' => 'Kontakt',
    'slug' => 'kontakt',
    '_raw' => [...original data...]
]
```

**Implementation:**
```php
if ($extraContext === 'metadata') {
    if (isset($data['_raw'][$currentLang])) {
        return array_merge($data, $data['_raw'][$currentLang]);
    }
}
```

#### B. Content File Filtering

Files follow the naming pattern: `filename.{lang}.{ext}`

**Example directory:**
```
content/about/
├── index.md       # Default language
├── index.no.md    # Norwegian
├── image.jpg      # Shared asset
└── metadata.ini
```

**Filtering rules:**
1. Language-specific files (`.lang.ext`) only show for that language
2. Default files only show if no language version exists
3. Non-content files are ignored

**Implementation:**
```php
if (is_array($data) && isset($data[0]['path'])) {
    $filtered = [];
    $seen = [];
    
    foreach ($files as $file) {
        $parts = explode('.', $file['name']);
        
        // Check for language-specific file
        if (count($parts) >= 3 && in_array($parts[-2], $availableLangs)) {
            if ($parts[-2] === $currentLang) {
                $filtered[] = $file;
                $seen[$parts[0]] = true;
            }
            continue;
        }
        
        // Include default file if no language version exists
        if (!isset($seen[$parts[0]]) && !hasLanguageVersion($dir, $parts[0])) {
            $filtered[] = $file;
        }
    }
    
    return $filtered;
}
```

#### C. Date Formatting

Dates are formatted with localized month names from translation files:

**Implementation:**
```php
if ($dirOrType === 'date_format') {
    return formatDate($data, $currentLang);
}
```

### 3. Template Variables (TEMPLATE_VARS Hook)

The plugin adds language-related variables to all templates:

**Variables added:**
- `$currentLang` - Active language code (e.g., "no")
- `$defaultLang` - Default language code from config
- `$langPrefix` - URL prefix for current language (e.g., "/no" or "")
- `$translations` - Array of translated strings from `.ini` files
- `$availableLangs` - Array of all configured languages
- `$languageUrls` - Pre-built URLs for all languages with correct slugs

**Implementation:**
```php
Hooks::add(Hook::TEMPLATE_VARS, function(array $vars, Context $ctx) {
    $vars['currentLang'] = $ctx->get('currentLang');
    $vars['defaultLang'] = $ctx->get('defaultLang');
    $vars['langPrefix'] = $ctx->get('langPrefix');
    $vars['translations'] = $ctx->get('translations');
    $vars['availableLangs'] = $ctx->get('availableLangs');
    $vars['languageUrls'] = buildLanguageUrls($ctx, ...);
    return $vars;
});
```

## Translation Files

Translation files are INI files located in:
- `app/default/languages/{lang}.ini` - Default translations
- `custom/languages/{lang}.ini` - Custom translations (override defaults)

### Format

```ini
; English translations (en.ini)

; Language names for language switcher
language_name = "English"
language_name_no = "Norsk"
language_name_fr = "Français"

; Navigation
home = "Home"
categories = "Categories"
tags = "Tags"

; Footer
footer_social = "Follow us on <a href='...'>Mastodon</a>"
footer_handcoded = "This website was hand-coded by..."
footer_page_time = "ms to generate this page."

; Months for date formatting
months = "January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,December"
```

### Loading Logic

```php
function loadTranslations(string $lang): array {
    $defaultFile = "app/default/languages/$lang.ini";
    $customFile = "custom/languages/$lang.ini";
    
    $translations = file_exists($defaultFile) 
        ? parse_ini_file($defaultFile) 
        : [];
    
    if (file_exists($customFile)) {
        $translations = array_merge($translations, parse_ini_file($customFile));
    }
    
    return $translations;
}
```

## Language-Specific Slugs

Slugs can be translated in metadata:

**Routing flow:**
1. URL arrives: `/no/kontakt/`
2. Language extracted: `currentLang = "no"`, path becomes `kontakt/`
3. Router calls `resolveSlugToFolder()` to find actual folder
4. Plugin has merged Norwegian metadata: `slug = "kontakt"`
5. Folder `contact/` matches slug `kontakt`
6. Content from `contact/` folder is served

**Language switcher flow:**
1. User clicks language switcher on `/no/kontakt/`
2. Plugin resolves path to folder: `kontakt` → `contact` folder
3. Loads English metadata for `contact/` folder
4. Finds English slug: `contact`
5. Generates URL: `/contact/`
6. User navigates to correct English page

## Language URLs Generation

The `buildLanguageUrls()` function generates URLs for all languages:

### Process

1. **Frontpage** - Simple language prefixes
2. **Regular pages**:
   - Resolve current path to actual folder names
   - For each language, load metadata for each folder
   - Extract language-specific slug from metadata
   - Build complete path with language prefix

### Example

**Current URL:** `/no/kontakt/`

**Process:**
1. Resolve path: `kontakt` → folder `contact`
2. For English (`en`):
   - Load `contact/metadata.ini`
   - Extract English slug: `contact`
   - Build URL: `/contact/` (default lang, no prefix)
3. For Norwegian (`no`):
   - Load `contact/metadata.ini`
   - Extract Norwegian slug: `kontakt`
   - Build URL: `/no/kontakt/`

**Result:**
```php
$languageUrls = [
    'en' => '/contact/',
    'no' => '/no/kontakt/'
];
```

## Helper Functions

### loadTranslations()

Loads translation files for a specific language.

```php
function loadTranslations(string $lang): array
```

**Returns:** Array of translation key-value pairs

### formatDate()

Formats ISO date strings with localized month names.

```php
function formatDate(string $dateString, string $lang): string
```

**Input:** `"2025-11-25"`  
**Output (Norwegian):** `"25. november 2025"`

### filterFilesByLanguage()

Filters content files based on current language.

```php
function filterFilesByLanguage(array $files, string $dir, Context $ctx): array
```

### buildLanguageUrls()

Generates URLs for all languages with correct slugs.

```php
function buildLanguageUrls(Context $ctx, string $currentLang, string $defaultLang, array $availableLangs): array
```

**Returns:** `['en' => '/about/', 'no' => '/no/om/', ...]`

### resolvePath()

Resolves URL path to actual folder names.

```php
function resolvePath(string $path, string $contentDir): ?array
```

**Input:** `"kontakt"`  
**Returns:** `["contact"]` (actual folder name)

## Template Usage

### Accessing Current Language

```php
<?php if ($currentLang === 'no'): ?>
    <p>Norwegian content</p>
<?php endif; ?>
```

### Using Translations

```php
<a href="<?= $langPrefix ?>/">
    <?= htmlspecialchars($translations['home'] ?? 'Home') ?>
</a>

<p><?= $translations['footer_text'] ?></p>
```

### Building Language Switcher

```php
<nav class="language-switcher">
    <?php foreach ($availableLangs as $lang): ?>
        <a href="<?= htmlspecialchars($languageUrls[$lang] ?? '/') ?>" 
           hreflang="<?= $lang ?>"
           <?= $lang === $currentLang ? 'aria-current="page"' : '' ?>>
            <?= htmlspecialchars($translations["language_name_$lang"] ?? strtoupper($lang)) ?>
        </a>
    <?php endforeach; ?>
</nav>
```

### Language-Aware Navigation

```php
<nav>
    <?php foreach ($navigation as $item): ?>
        <a href="<?= $langPrefix ?><?= htmlspecialchars($item['url']) ?>">
            <?= htmlspecialchars($item['title']) ?>
        </a>
    <?php endforeach; ?>
</nav>
```

## Adding a New Language

To add a new language (e.g., French):

1. **Update config:**
   ```ini
   [languages]
   default = "en"
   available = "en,no,fr"
   ```

2. **Create translation file** (`custom/languages/fr.ini`):
   ```ini
   language_name = "Français"
   language_name_en = "English"
   language_name_no = "Norsk"
   home = "Accueil"
   months = "janvier,février,mars,..."
   ```

3. **Add French content:**
   - Create `.fr.md` files
   - Add `[fr]` sections to `metadata.ini`

4. **No code changes needed** - Plugin automatically handles it

## Content Organization Patterns

### Single File Per Language

```
content/about/
├── index.md       # English
├── index.no.md    # Norwegian
├── index.fr.md    # French
└── metadata.ini   # Translated metadata
```

### Separate Directories

```
content/blog/
├── 2025-11-01-english-post/
│   └── index.md
├── 2025-11-01-norwegian-post/
│   └── index.no.md
└── 2025-11-01-french-post/
    └── index.fr.md
```

### Mixed Strategy

```
content/
├── about/
│   ├── index.md       # Translated
│   ├── index.no.md
│   └── metadata.ini
└── blog/
    └── 2025-11-01-news/
        └── index.md   # English only
```

## Performance Considerations

- Translation files loaded once per request
- Metadata parsed once per directory access
- Content filtering happens during directory scan
- URL generation cached in template variables

## Limitations

- No automatic content translation
- Language must be first path segment (after domain)
- Default language never has URL prefix
- Shared assets must be referenced relatively

## Related Files

- Plugin: `app/plugins/global/languages.php`
- Hook system: `app/hooks.php`
- Content loading: `app/content.php`
- Routing: `app/router.php`

## See Also

- [Plugin System Reference](plugin-system.md)
- [How to Create Multi-Language Sites](../../docs/how-to/multi-language.md)
- [Configuration Reference](../../docs/reference/configuration.md)