Globalization overview

The IBM i operating system supports many languages, thus working as you expect it to work from both a linguistic and a cultural point of view. You can work in the language of your choice. The IBM i operating system also ensures that the data you send to and receive from the system appears in the form and order you expect.

The IBM i operating system uses a common set of program code, regardless of which language you use on the system. For example, the program code on a U.S. English system and the program code on a Spanish system are identical. Different sets of textual data are used, however, for different languages.

Textual data is a collective term for menus, displays, lists, prompts, options, online help information, and messages. This means that you see Help for the description of a function key for online help information about a U.S. English system, while you see Ayuda on a Spanish system. Using the same program code with different sets of textual data allows the IBM i operating system to support more than one language on a single system.