How to change the map labels language based on visitor’s location

This tutorial demonstrates the process of automatically adjusting the language of map labels based on the visitor’s location using the MapTiler Geolocation API.

By utilizing the MapTiler Geolocation API, it becomes possible to dynamically change the language of map labels to match the user’s location main language. This feature enhances the user experience by providing map information in a language that is familiar and easily understood by the visitor. With the MapTiler Geolocation API, businesses and websites can seamlessly integrate this functionality into their mapping applications, ensuring a personalized and localized experience for their users.

  1. Copy the following code, paste it into your favorite text editor, and save it as a .html file.

  2. Install the npm package.

  3. Include the CSS file.

    If you have a bundler that can handle CSS, you can import the CSS or include it with a <link> in the head of the document via the CDN

  4. Include the following code in your JavaScript file (Example: app.js).

  5. Replace YOUR_MAPTILER_API_KEY_HERE with your actual MapTiler API key.

  6. The next is up to you. You can center your map wherever you desire (modifying the starting position) and set an appropriate zoom level (modifying the starting zoom) to match your users’ needs. Additionally, you can change the map’s look (by updating the source URL); choose from a range of visually appealing map styles from our extensive MapTiler standard maps, or create your own to truly differentiate your application.

  7. Add event handler for map load event. You will add code to change disputed borders according to your map visitor’s location in this handler.

  8. Get the user’s IP country languages codes.

  9. Change the language of the map. In this example we will use the first language of the language array of the visitor’s country.

Learn more

Check out the tutorials How to center map based on visitor’s location, How to display disputed borders based on visitor’s location and How to display the cookies consent bar according to the visitor’s location.

Visit the MapTiler Geolocation API reference for Geolocation response object properties. Like for example, the name of the country, the city, etc.

Visit the MapTiler Planet schema to know how it is organized into different thematic layers and which attributes and values each layer contains.

Learn more about Change language in a map

Check out the How to handle Right-to-Left Texts in Maps

Read Disputed borders on your maps

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