# Translations
> Both content and the data studio can be translated into multiple languages.
Localising content in Directus involves using translation strings, which are multilingual key-value pairs that you can use throughout the app. They enable you to translate things like dropdown options, placeholder text, field notes, and more.
**Data Studio Translations**
This article refers to translating your content in Directus. Many parts of the Data Studio are already translated into multiple languages via community contribution on Crowdin.
## Create a Translation String
To create a translation string, navigate to Settings > Translation Strings and click on
in the page header and a drawer will open.
Add a key and click on "Create New" to open another drawer. Select the language and type in the corresponding translation. Click on
to confirm and add the translation.
## Use a Translation String
Throughout the settings module, you will notice certain input fields have a
icon on them, meaning you have the option assign a translation string.
To assign a translation string, navigate to the input that you'd like to add a translation string to. There are two ways to assign a translation string:
- Click
and a dropdown menu with all translation strings will appear.
- Type `$t:translation-string-key` and hit enter.
Choose a translation string key as desired.
**Switching Language**
There are two ways to change the app language. Administrators can set the project's
[default language](/configuration/translations), while users can choose their own personal language preference.
**Adding New Translation Strings**
You can also click ":icon{name="material-symbols:add-circle-rounded"} New Translation String" in the
dropdown menu to create a new translation string on the fly.
## Content Translations
With Directus, you can localize your content into several languages using a [translations field](/guides/data-model/relationships) on a given collection. Directus provides a built-in wizard to automatically generate the full translations infrastructure, or you can set it up manually.
### Quick Setup with Generate Translations
Directus can automatically create all the collections, fields, and relationships needed for content translations.
1. Navigate to **Settings > Data Model** and select the collection you want to translate.
2. In the collection settings, find the **Translations** section.
3. Click **Enable Translations**.
4. In the dialog, select the fields you want to make translatable.
5. Click **Enable** to generate the translations infrastructure.
This will automatically create:
- A **languages** collection (if one doesn't already exist), pre-populated with common languages (English, Arabic, German, French, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese).
- A **translations junction collection** (e.g. `articles_translations`) containing the selected fields.
- The necessary **relationships** and a **translations alias field** on the source collection.
**Advanced Options**
Expand the advanced section in the dialog to customize the translations collection name, languages collection, and foreign key field names.
#### Adding More Translatable Fields
Once translations are enabled, you can add more fields at any time.
1. Return to **Settings > Data Model** and select the collection.
2. In the **Translations** section, click **Add Fields**.
3. Select additional fields and save.
### Manual Setup
You can also set up translations manually by creating the required collections and relationships yourself.
Add a translations O2M alias field to your collection. This will create a pre-populated `languages` collection, as well as a hidden `_translations` collection.
In the "Data Model" section of the settings module, navigate into the `_translations` collection and add the fields which you'd like to translate.
Now, when [editing an item](/guides/content/editor) of that collection, you'll be able to add translations for those fields.
**Default Language**
When no explicit default language is set on a translation interface, the first language in the `languages` collection determines the default tab shown when editing translations. To control this order, add an integer field (e.g. `sort`) to the `languages` collection and set it as the collection's sort field.
## AI Translations
Directus can automatically translate your content into multiple languages using AI. Configure an AI provider in [Settings > AI](/guides/ai/assistant/setup), then use the **Translate with AI** button in the translations interface to translate fields across all your configured languages at once.
Learn how to set up and use AI-powered translations.
## RTL Support
Directus provides comprehensive Right-to-Left (RTL) language support for both content editing and the entire studio interface.
### Automatic RTL Detection
The studio automatically switches to RTL rendering mode when using languages that are commonly written in RTL direction, including:
- Arabic (`ar-SA`)
- Farci (`fa-IR`)
- Hebrew (`he-IL`)
### Manual RTL Override
To manually control the text direction regardless of selected language:
1. Navigate to your user profile
2. Look for the "Text Direction" option
3. Choose between:
- "Automatic" - Follows the language's natural direction
- "Left to Right" - Forces left-to-right direction
- "Right to Left" - Forces right-to-left direction