# Languages & Internationalization

OpenCharts supports multiple languages. Change your language and region to see the interface in your preferred locale. English is the default, with fallback for any untranslated strings.

## Changing Your Language

You can set your language in two places:

- During onboarding — the Language & Region step lets you pick on first sign-up
- Anytime in Settings → Language — change language and region preferences

## Region Settings

The region setting affects date formats, number formatting, and currency display (where applicable). It's separate from language — you can use English with a European date format, for example.

## How Translation Works

Translations are loaded from static locale files. The `t()` function looks up keys in your selected language. If a key is missing, it falls back to English.

Your preference is saved to your **user account** (synced across devices) and also to **localStorage** (for fast initial load before auth).

The HTML `lang` attribute updates automatically, ensuring screen readers and browser features respect your language.

Translation coverage varies by language. Core UI (sidebar, toolbar, dialogs) is prioritized. Help Center content is currently English-only.