Client Components

This guide explains how to use the internationalization package with React Client Components in your Next.js application.

Overview

Client Components run in the browser and can include interactive features. To use translations in Client Components, you need to:

Wrap your Client Components with the TranslationProvider in a Server Component
Use the useTranslation hook in your Client Components to access translations

Setting Up the Translation Provider

In a Server Component that renders your Client Component, wrap the Client Component with the TranslationProvider:

// app/[locale]/contact/page.tsx (Server Component)
import { getDictionary } from '@repo/internationalization';
import { TranslationProvider } from '@repo/internationalization/TranslationProvider';
import ContactForm from '@/components/ContactForm'; // Client component

export default async function ContactPage({ params }: { params: { locale: string } }) {
  const dictionary = await getDictionary(params.locale);
  
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{dictionary.web.contact.title}</h1>
      <p>{dictionary.web.contact.description}</p>
      
      <TranslationProvider locale={params.locale} messages={dictionary}>
        <ContactForm />
      </TranslationProvider>
    </div>
  );
}

The TranslationProvider component:

Takes the current locale and dictionary as props
Makes translations available to all Client Components within its subtree
Uses next-intl under the hood to provide translations

Using the useTranslation Hook

In your Client Components, import and use the useTranslation hook to access translations:

// components/ContactForm.tsx (Client Component)
'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';
import { useTranslation } from '@repo/internationalization/useTranslation';

export default function ContactForm() {
  const { t } = useTranslation('web.contact.form');
  const [formData, setFormData] = useState({
    name: '',
    email: '',
    message: ''
  });
  
  const handleChange = (e) => {
    const { name, value } = e.target;
    setFormData(prev => ({ ...prev, [name]: value }));
  };
  
  const handleSubmit = (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // Form submission logic
  };
  
  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <div className="form-group">
        <label htmlFor="name">{t('name')}</label>
        <input
          type="text"
          id="name"
          name="name"
          value={formData.name}
          onChange={handleChange}
          placeholder={t('namePlaceholder')}
          required
        />
      </div>
      
      <div className="form-group">
        <label htmlFor="email">{t('email')}</label>
        <input
          type="email"
          id="email"
          name="email"
          value={formData.email}
          onChange={handleChange}
          placeholder={t('emailPlaceholder')}
          required
        />
      </div>
      
      <div className="form-group">
        <label htmlFor="message">{t('message')}</label>
        <textarea
          id="message"
          name="message"
          value={formData.message}
          onChange={handleChange}
          placeholder={t('messagePlaceholder')}
          required
        ></textarea>
      </div>
      
      <button type="submit">{t('submit')}</button>
    </form>
  );
}

The useTranslation hook:

Takes a namespace parameter that specifies which part of the translation object to use
Returns a t function that you can use to access translations within that namespace
Automatically updates when the locale changes

Namespace Parameter

The namespace parameter in the useTranslation hook helps you access a specific section of your translations:

// Access translations under web.contact.form
const { t } = useTranslation('web.contact.form');

// Now you can use t('fieldName') instead of t('web.contact.form.fieldName')
t('name') // -> "Name"
t('email') // -> "Email"

You can use different namespaces in different components based on the section of translations they need:

// In a navigation component
const { t } = useTranslation('web.header');

// In a footer component
const { t } = useTranslation('web.footer');

Dynamic Values and Formatting

You can include dynamic values in your translations:

// Translation: "Hello, {name}!"
const { t } = useTranslation('web.greeting');

// Pass values as an object
t('welcome', { name: user.name }) // -> "Hello, John!"

For date and number formatting:

// Translation: "Last updated on {date}"
const { t } = useTranslation('web.common');

// Format date according to the current locale
const formattedDate = new Intl.DateTimeFormat(locale, {
  year: 'numeric',
  month: 'long',
  day: 'numeric'
}).format(new Date());

t('lastUpdated', { date: formattedDate })

Pluralization

You can handle pluralization in your translations:

// In your translation file:
// {
//   "items": {
//     "zero": "No items",
//     "one": "One item",
//     "other": "{count} items"
//   }
// }

const { t } = useTranslation('web.products');

// Pass the count as a parameter
t('items', { count: 0 }) // -> "No items"
t('items', { count: 1 }) // -> "One item"
t('items', { count: 5 }) // -> "5 items"

Creating a Language Switcher

You can create a language switcher component to allow users to change the language:

// components/LanguageSwitcher.tsx
'use client';

import Link from 'next/link';
import { usePathname } from 'next/navigation';
import { i18nConfig } from '@repo/internationalization/i18nConfig';
import { useTranslation } from '@repo/internationalization/useTranslation';

// Map of locale codes to their display names
const localeNames: Record<string, string> = {
  en: 'English',
  tr: 'Türkçe',
  es: 'Español',
  de: 'Deutsch'
};

export default function LanguageSwitcher() {
  const pathname = usePathname();
  const { t } = useTranslation('web.common');
  
  // Function to get the path for a different locale
  const getLocalePath = (locale: string) => {
    const segments = pathname.split('/');
    const currentLocale = segments[1];
    
    // Check if the current path already has a locale
    if (i18nConfig.locales.includes(currentLocale)) {
      segments[1] = locale;
      return segments.join('/');
    }
    
    // If no locale in the path, add it
    return `/${locale}${pathname}`;
  };
  
  return (
    <div className="language-switcher">
      <span className="language-label">{t('language')}:</span>
      <ul className="language-list">
        {i18nConfig.locales.map((locale) => (
          <li key={locale}>
            <Link 
              href={getLocalePath(locale)}
              className={pathname.startsWith(`/${locale}/`) ? 'active' : ''}
            >
              {localeNames[locale] || locale.toUpperCase()}
            </Link>
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

Best Practices

Keep Client Components Small

Split large Client Components into smaller ones and use the appropriate namespace for each component to keep translations organized.

Use TypeScript for Type Safety

Define types for your translations to get better IDE support:

// Define types for your translations
type ContactFormTranslations = {
  name: string;
  email: string;
  message: string;
  submit: string;
  // Add more fields as needed
};

// Use type assertion for better type checking
const { t } = useTranslation<ContactFormTranslations>('web.contact.form');

Handle Missing Translations

Always provide fallbacks for translations that might be missing:

// Use optional chaining and nullish coalescing
{t('specialField') ?? t('defaultField')}

Examples

Interactive Form with Validation

// components/SignupForm.tsx
'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';
import { useTranslation } from '@repo/internationalization/useTranslation';

type FormErrors = {
  name?: string;
  email?: string;
  password?: string;
};

export default function SignupForm() {
  const { t } = useTranslation('web.auth.signup');
  const [formData, setFormData] = useState({
    name: '',
    email: '',
    password: ''
  });
  const [errors, setErrors] = useState<FormErrors>({});
  
  const validate = () => {
    const newErrors: FormErrors = {};
    
    if (!formData.name) {
      newErrors.name = t('errors.nameRequired');
    }
    
    if (!formData.email) {
      newErrors.email = t('errors.emailRequired');
    } else if (!/\S+@\S+\.\S+/.test(formData.email)) {
      newErrors.email = t('errors.emailInvalid');
    }
    
    if (!formData.password) {
      newErrors.password = t('errors.passwordRequired');
    } else if (formData.password.length < 8) {
      newErrors.password = t('errors.passwordLength');
    }
    
    setErrors(newErrors);
    return Object.keys(newErrors).length === 0;
  };
  
  const handleChange = (e) => {
    const { name, value } = e.target;
    setFormData(prev => ({ ...prev, [name]: value }));
    
    // Clear error when user starts typing
    if (errors[name]) {
      setErrors(prev => ({ ...prev, [name]: undefined }));
    }
  };
  
  const handleSubmit = (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    
    if (validate()) {
      // Form submission logic
      console.log('Form submitted:', formData);
      alert(t('submitSuccess'));
    }
  };
  
  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="signup-form">
      <h2>{t('title')}</h2>
      
      <div className="form-group">
        <label htmlFor="name">{t('name')}</label>
        <input
          type="text"
          id="name"
          name="name"
          value={formData.name}
          onChange={handleChange}
          className={errors.name ? 'error' : ''}
        />
        {errors.name && <span className="error-message">{errors.name}</span>}
      </div>
      
      <div className="form-group">
        <label htmlFor="email">{t('email')}</label>
        <input
          type="email"
          id="email"
          name="email"
          value={formData.email}
          onChange={handleChange}
          className={errors.email ? 'error' : ''}
        />
        {errors.email && <span className="error-message">{errors.email}</span>}
      </div>
      
      <div className="form-group">
        <label htmlFor="password">{t('password')}</label>
        <input
          type="password"
          id="password"
          name="password"
          value={formData.password}
          onChange={handleChange}
          className={errors.password ? 'error' : ''}
        />
        {errors.password && <span className="error-message">{errors.password}</span>}
      </div>
      
      <div className="form-actions">
        <button type="submit">{t('submit')}</button>
      </div>
      
      <p className="terms">{t('termsNotice')}</p>
    </form>
  );
}

Dynamic Content Loading

// components/DynamicContent.tsx
'use client';

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { useTranslation } from '@repo/internationalization/useTranslation';

export default function DynamicContent() {
  const { t } = useTranslation('web.dashboard');
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  const [error, setError] = useState(null);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    async function fetchData() {
      try {
        setLoading(true);
        const response = await fetch('/api/data');
        const result = await response.json();
        setData(result);
        setError(null);
      } catch (err) {
        setError(t('errors.fetchFailed'));
      } finally {
        setLoading(false);
      }
    }
    
    fetchData();
  }, [t]);
  
  if (loading) {
    return <div className="loading">{t('loading')}</div>;
  }
  
  if (error) {
    return <div className="error">{error}</div>;
  }
  
  return (
    <div className="dynamic-content">
      <h2>{t('dataTitle')}</h2>
      
      {data && data.items && data.items.length > 0 ? (
        <ul className="data-list">
          {data.items.map((item, index) => (
            <li key={index} className="data-item">
              <h3>{item.title}</h3>
              <p>{item.description}</p>
              <span className="date">
                {t('lastUpdated', { 
                  date: new Date(item.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString() 
                })}
              </span>
            </li>
          ))}
        </ul>
      ) : (
        <p className="no-data">{t('noData')}</p>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

Introduction

Setup

CLI

Internationalization

Deployment

Client Components

Client Components

Overview

Setting Up the Translation Provider

Using the useTranslation Hook

Namespace Parameter

Dynamic Values and Formatting

Pluralization

Creating a Language Switcher

Best Practices

Examples

Interactive Form with Validation

Dynamic Content Loading

Next Steps

Adding Languages

Advanced Usage

Introduction

Setup

CLI

Internationalization

Deployment

Documentation Index

​Client Components

​Overview

​Setting Up the Translation Provider

​Using the useTranslation Hook

​Namespace Parameter

​Dynamic Values and Formatting

​Pluralization

​Creating a Language Switcher

​Best Practices

​Examples

​Interactive Form with Validation

​Dynamic Content Loading

​Next Steps

Adding Languages

Advanced Usage

Client Components

Overview

Setting Up the Translation Provider

Using the useTranslation Hook

Namespace Parameter

Dynamic Values and Formatting

Pluralization

Creating a Language Switcher

Best Practices

Examples

Interactive Form with Validation

Dynamic Content Loading

Next Steps