ISO 21720:2017
(Main)XLIFF (XML Localisation interchange file format)
XLIFF (XML Localisation interchange file format)
ISO 21720:2017 defines version 2.0 of the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF). The purpose of this vocabulary is to store localizable data and carry it from one step of the localization process to the other, while allowing interoperability between and among tools.
XLIFF (Format de fichier XML pour l'échange de données de localisation)
XLIFF (format XML datoteke za izmenjavo lokalizacije)
EN-ISO 21720 opredeljuje različico 2.0 formata XML datoteke za izmenjavo lokalizacije (XLIFF). Namen tega slovarja je shraniti podatke, ki jih je mogoče lokalizirati, in jih prenesti iz enega koraka postopka lokalizacije v drugega, hkrati pa omogočiti interoperabilnost med orodji.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21720
First edition
2017-11
XLIFF (XML Localisation interchange
file format)
XLIFF (Format de fichier XML pour l'échange de données de
localisation)
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 749 01 11
Fax +41 22 749 09 47
copyright@iso.org
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national
standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is
normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a
subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on
that committee. International organizations, governmental and non‐governmental, in liaison
with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance
are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria
needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2
(see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in
the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received
(see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and
does not constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the
following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by OASIS (as XLIFF Version 2.0, August 2014) and was adopted,
under a special “fast‐track procedure”, by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Terminology and
other language and content resources, Subcommittee SC 5, Translation, interpreting and related
technology.
iii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
XLIFF Version 2.0
OASIS Standard
05 August 2014
Specification URIs
This version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.xml
Previous version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.xml
Latest version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.xml
Technical Committee:
OASIS XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) TC
Chair:
Bryan Schnabel (bryan.s.schnabel@tektronix.com), Individual
Editors:
Tom Comerford (tom@supratext.com), Individual
David Filip (davidf@ul.ie), Localisation Research Centre
Rodolfo M. Raya (rmraya@maxprograms.com), Maxprograms
Yves Savourel (ysavourel@enlaso.com), ENLASO Corporation
Additional artifacts:
This prose specification is one component of a Work Product that also includes:
XML schemas accessible from http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/schemas/
Related Work:
This specification replaces or supersedes:
XLIFF Version 1.2. 1 February 2008. OASIS Standard. http://docs.oasis-
open.org/xliff/v1.2/os/xliff-core.html
Declared XML Namespaces:
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:2.0
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
i
ISO 21720:2017(E)
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:matches:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:glossary:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:fs:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:metadata:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:resourcedata:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:changetracking:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:sizerestriction:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:validation:2.0
Abstract:
This document defines version 2.0 of the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF). The
purpose of this vocabulary is to store localizable data and carry it from one step of the localization
process to the other, while allowing interoperability between and among tools.
Status:
This document was last revised or approved by the membership of OASIS on the above date. The
level of approval is also listed above. Check the “Latest version” location noted above for possible
later revisions of this document.
Technical Committee members should send comments on this specification to the Technical
Committee's email list. Others should send comments to the Technical Committee by using the "Send
A Comment" button on the Technical Committee's web page at http://www.oasis-
open.org/committees/xliff/.
For information on whether any patents have been disclosed that may be essential to implementing
this specification, and any offers of patent licensing terms, please refer to the Intellectual Property
Rights section of the Technical Committee web page (http://www.oasis-
open.org/committees/xliff/ipr.php).
Citation format:
When referencing this specification the following citation format should be used:
[XLIFF-2.0]
XLIFF Version 2.0. Edited by Tom Comerford, David Filip, Rodolfo M. Raya, and Yves Savourel. 05
August 2014. OASIS Standard. http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.html.
Latest version: http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html.
Notices
Copyright © OASIS Open 2014. All Rights Reserved.
All capitalized terms in the following text have the meanings assigned to them in the OASIS Intellectual
Property Rights Policy (the "OASIS IPR Policy"). The full Policy may be found at the OASIS website.
This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to others, and derivative works that
comment on or otherwise explain it or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published, and
distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this
section are included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this document itself may not be
modified in any way, including by removing the copyright notice or references to OASIS, except as needed for
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
the purpose of developing any document or deliverable produced by an OASIS Technical Committee (in which
case the rules applicable to copyrights, as set forth in the OASIS IPR Policy, must be followed) or as required
to translate it into languages other than English.
The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be revoked by OASIS or its successors or
assigns.
This document and the information contained herein is provided on an "AS IS" basis and OASIS DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT
THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY OWNERSHIP RIGHTS OR ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
OASIS requests that any OASIS Party or any other party that believes it has patent claims that would
necessarily be infringed by implementations of this OASIS Committee Specification or OASIS Standard, to
notify OASIS TC Administrator and provide an indication of its willingness to grant patent licenses to such
patent claims in a manner consistent with the IPR Mode of the OASIS Technical Committee that produced this
specification.
OASIS invites any party to contact the OASIS TC Administrator if it is aware of a claim of ownership of any
patent claims that would necessarily be infringed by implementations of this specification by a patent holder
that is not willing to provide a license to such patent claims in a manner consistent with the IPR Mode of the
OASIS Technical Committee that produced this specification. OASIS may include such claims on its website,
but disclaims any obligation to do so.
OASIS takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any intellectual property or other rights that might
be claimed to pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in this document or the extent
to which any license under such rights might or might not be available; neither does it represent that it has
made any effort to identify any such rights. Information on OASIS' procedures with respect to rights in any
document or deliverable produced by an OASIS Technical Committee can be found on the OASIS website.
Copies of claims of rights made available for publication and any assurances of licenses to be made available,
or the result of an attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use of such proprietary rights
by implementers or users of this OASIS Committee Specification or OASIS Standard, can be obtained from
the OASIS TC Administrator. OASIS makes no representation that any information or list of intellectual
property rights will at any time be complete, or that any claims in such list are, in fact, Essential Claims.
The name "OASIS" is a trademark of OASIS, the owner and developer of this specification, and should be
used only to refer to the organization and its official outputs. OASIS welcomes reference to, and
implementation and use of, specifications, while reserving the right to enforce its marks against misleading
uses. Please see http://www.oasis-open.org/policies-guidelines/trademark for above guidance.
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Terminology
1.1.1 Key words
1.1.2 Definitions
1.1.3 Key concepts
1.2 Normative References
1.3 Non-Normative References
2 Conformance
3 Fragment Identification
3.1 Selectors for Core Elements
3.2 Selectors for Modules and Extensions
3.3 Relative References
3.4 Examples
4 The Core Specification
4.1 General Processing Requirements
4.2 Elements
4.2.1 Tree Structure
4.2.2 Structural Elements
4.2.3 Inline Elements
4.3 Attributes
4.3.1 XLIFF Attributes
4.3.2 XML namespace
4.4 CDATA sections
4.5 XML Comments
4.6 XML Processing Instructions
4.7 Inline Content
4.7.1 Text
4.7.2 Inline Codes
4.7.3 Annotations
4.7.4 Sub-Flows
4.7.5 White Spaces
4.7.6 Bidirectional Text
4.7.7 Target Content Modification
4.7.8 Content Comparison
4.8 Segmentation
4.8.1 Segments Representation
4.8.2 Segments Order
4.8.3 Segmentation Modification
4.9 Extension Mechanisms
4.9.1 Extension Points
4.9.2 Constraints
4.9.3 Processing Requirements
5 The Modules Specifications
5.1 Translation Candidates Module
5.1.1 Introduction
5.1.2 Module Namespace
5.1.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.1.4 Translation Candidate Annotation
5.1.5 Module Elements
5.1.6 Module Attributes
5.1.7 Example:
5.1.8 XML Schema
5.2 Glossary Module
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO 21720:2017(E)
5.2.1 Introduction
5.2.2 Module Namespace
5.2.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.2.4 Module Elements
5.2.5 Module Attributes
5.2.6 Example:
5.2.7 XML Schema
5.3 Format Style Module
5.3.1 Introduction
5.3.2 Module Namespace
5.3.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.3.4 Module Specification
5.3.5 Module Attributes
5.3.6 XML Schema
5.4 Metadata Module
5.4.1 Introduction
5.4.2 Module Namespace
5.4.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.4.4 Module Elements
5.4.5 Module Attributes
5.4.6 XML Schema
5.5 Resource Data Module
5.5.1 Introduction
5.5.2 Module Namespace
5.5.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.5.4 Module Elements
5.5.5 Module Attributes
5.5.6 Examples:
5.5.7 XML Schema
5.6 Change Tracking Module
5.6.1 Introduction
5.6.2 Module Namespace
5.6.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.6.4 Module Elements
5.6.5 Module Attributes
5.6.6 Example:
5.6.7 XML Schema
5.7 Size and Length Restriction Module
5.7.1 Introduction
5.7.2 Module Namespace
5.7.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.7.4 Module Elements
5.7.5 Module Attributes
5.7.6 Standard profiles
5.7.7 Third party profiles
5.7.8 Conformance
5.7.9 Example
5.7.10 XML Schema
5.8 Validation Module
5.8.1 Introduction
5.8.2 Module Namespace
5.8.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.8.4 Module Elements
5.8.5 Module Attributes
5.8.6 XML Schema
Appendixes
A XML Schemas and Catalog Listings (Informative)
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
v
ISO 21720:2017(E)
A.1 XML Schemas Tree
A.2 XML Catalog
A.3 Core XML Schema
A.4 Support Schemas
B Specification Change Tracking (Informative)
B.1 Tracking of changes made in response to Public Reviews
B.1.1 Tracking of changes in response to the Candidate OASIS Standard Public Review
B.1.2 Tracking of changes in response to the 3rd Public Review
B.1.3 Tracking of changes in response to the 2nd Public Review
B.1.4 Tracking of changes in response to the 1st Public Review
C Acknowledgements (Informative)
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
vi
ISO 21720:2017(E)
1 Introduction
XLIFF is the XML Localisation Interchange File Format designed by a group of multilingual content publishers,
software
...
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2018
XLIFF (format XML datoteke za izmenjavo lokalizacije)
XLIFF (XML Localisation interchange file format)
XLIFF (Format de fichier XML pour l'échange de données de localisation)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO 21720:2017
ICS:
35.240.30 Uporabniške rešitve IT v IT applications in information,
informatiki, dokumentiranju in documentation and
založništvu publishing
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21720
First edition
2017-11
XLIFF (XML Localisation interchange
file format)
XLIFF (Format de fichier XML pour l'échange de données de
localisation)
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 749 01 11
Fax +41 22 749 09 47
copyright@iso.org
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national
standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is
normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a
subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on
that committee. International organizations, governmental and non‐governmental, in liaison
with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance
are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria
needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2
(see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in
the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received
(see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and
does not constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the
following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by OASIS (as XLIFF Version 2.0, August 2014) and was adopted,
under a special “fast‐track procedure”, by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Terminology and
other language and content resources, Subcommittee SC 5, Translation, interpreting and related
technology.
iii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
XLIFF Version 2.0
OASIS Standard
05 August 2014
Specification URIs
This version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.xml
Previous version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.xml
Latest version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.xml
Technical Committee:
OASIS XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) TC
Chair:
Bryan Schnabel (bryan.s.schnabel@tektronix.com), Individual
Editors:
Tom Comerford (tom@supratext.com), Individual
David Filip (davidf@ul.ie), Localisation Research Centre
Rodolfo M. Raya (rmraya@maxprograms.com), Maxprograms
Yves Savourel (ysavourel@enlaso.com), ENLASO Corporation
Additional artifacts:
This prose specification is one component of a Work Product that also includes:
XML schemas accessible from http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/schemas/
Related Work:
This specification replaces or supersedes:
XLIFF Version 1.2. 1 February 2008. OASIS Standard. http://docs.oasis-
open.org/xliff/v1.2/os/xliff-core.html
Declared XML Namespaces:
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:2.0
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
i
ISO 21720:2017(E)
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:matches:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:glossary:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:fs:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:metadata:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:resourcedata:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:changetracking:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:sizerestriction:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:validation:2.0
Abstract:
This document defines version 2.0 of the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF). The
purpose of this vocabulary is to store localizable data and carry it from one step of the localization
process to the other, while allowing interoperability between and among tools.
Status:
This document was last revised or approved by the membership of OASIS on the above date. The
level of approval is also listed above. Check the “Latest version” location noted above for possible
later revisions of this document.
Technical Committee members should send comments on this specification to the Technical
Committee's email list. Others should send comments to the Technical Committee by using the "Send
A Comment" button on the Technical Committee's web page at http://www.oasis-
open.org/committees/xliff/.
For information on whether any patents have been disclosed that may be essential to implementing
this specification, and any offers of patent licensing terms, please refer to the Intellectual Property
Rights section of the Technical Committee web page (http://www.oasis-
open.org/committees/xliff/ipr.php).
Citation format:
When referencing this specification the following citation format should be used:
[XLIFF-2.0]
XLIFF Version 2.0. Edited by Tom Comerford, David Filip, Rodolfo M. Raya, and Yves Savourel. 05
August 2014. OASIS Standard. http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.html.
Latest version: http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html.
Notices
Copyright © OASIS Open 2014. All Rights Reserved.
All capitalized terms in the following text have the meanings assigned to them in the OASIS Intellectual
Property Rights Policy (the "OASIS IPR Policy"). The full Policy may be found at the OASIS website.
This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to others, and derivative works that
comment on or otherwise explain it or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published, and
distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this
section are included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this document itself may not be
modified in any way, including by removing the copyright notice or references to OASIS, except as needed for
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
the purpose of developing any document or deliverable produced by an OASIS Technical Committee (in which
case the rules applicable to copyrights, as set forth in the OASIS IPR Policy, must be followed) or as required
to translate it into languages other than English.
The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be revoked by OASIS or its successors or
assigns.
This document and the information contained herein is provided on an "AS IS" basis and OASIS DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT
THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY OWNERSHIP RIGHTS OR ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
OASIS requests that any OASIS Party or any other party that believes it has patent claims that would
necessarily be infringed by implementations of this OASIS Committee Specification or OASIS Standard, to
notify OASIS TC Administrator and provide an indication of its willingness to grant patent licenses to such
patent claims in a manner consistent with the IPR Mode of the OASIS Technical Committee that produced this
specification.
OASIS invites any party to contact the OASIS TC Administrator if it is aware of a claim of ownership of any
patent claims that would necessarily be infringed by implementations of this specification by a patent holder
that is not willing to provide a license to such patent claims in a manner consistent with the IPR Mode of the
OASIS Technical Committee that produced this specification. OASIS may include such claims on its website,
but disclaims any obligation to do so.
OASIS takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any intellectual property or other rights that might
be claimed to pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in this document or the extent
to which any license under such rights might or might not be available; neither does it represent that it has
made any effort to identify any such rights. Information on OASIS' procedures with respect to rights in any
document or deliverable produced by an OASIS Technical Committee can be found on the OASIS website.
Copies of claims of rights made available for publication and any assurances of licenses to be made available,
or the result of an attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use of such proprietary rights
by implementers or users of this OASIS Committee Specification or OASIS Standard, can be obtained from
the OASIS TC Administrator. OASIS makes no representation that any information or list of intellectual
property rights will at any time be complete, or that any claims in such list are, in fact, Essential Claims.
The name "OASIS" is a trademark of OASIS, the owner and developer of this specification, and should be
used only to refer to the organization and its official outputs. OASIS welcomes reference to, and
implementation and use of, specifications, while reserving the right to enforce its marks against misleading
uses. Please see http://www.oasis-open.org/policies-guidelines/trademark for above guidance.
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Terminology
1.1.1 Key words
1.1.2 Definitions
1.1.3 Key concepts
1.2 Normative References
1.3 Non-Normative References
2 Conformance
3 Fragment Identification
3.1 Selectors for Core Elements
3.2 Selectors for Modules and Extensions
3.3 Relative References
3.4 Examples
4 The Core Specification
4.1 General Processing Requirements
4.2 Elements
4.2.1 Tree Structure
4.2.2 Structural Elements
4.2.3 Inline Elements
4.3 Attributes
4.3.1 XLIFF Attributes
4.3.2 XML namespace
4.4 CDATA sections
4.5 XML Comments
4.6 XML Processing Instructions
4.7 Inline Content
4.7.1 Text
4.7.2 Inline Codes
4.7.3 Annotations
4.7.4 Sub-Flows
4.7.5 White Spaces
4.7.6 Bidirectional Text
4.7.7 Target Content Modification
4.7.8 Content Comparison
4.8 Segmentation
4.8.1 Segments Representation
4.8.2 Segments Order
4.8.3 Segmentation Modification
4.9 Extension Mechanisms
4.9.1 Extension Points
4.9.2 Constraints
4.9.3 Processing Requirements
5 The Modules Specifications
5.1 Translation Candidates Module
5.1.1 Introduction
5.1.2 Module Namespace
5.1.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.1.4 Translation Candidate Annotation
5.1.5 Module Elements
5.1.6 Module Attributes
5.1.7 Example:
5.1.8 XML Schema
5.2 Glossary Module
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO 21720:2017(E)
5.2.1 Introduction
5.2.2 Module Namespace
5.2.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.2.4 Module Elements
5.2.5 Module Attributes
5.2.6 Example:
5.2.7 XML Schema
5.3 Format Style Module
5.3.1 Introduction
5.3.2 Module Namespace
5.3.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.3.4 Module Specification
5.3.5 Module Attributes
5.3.6 XML Schema
5.4 Metadata Module
5.4.1 Introduction
5.4.2 Module Namespace
5.4.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.4.4 Module Elements
5.4.5 Module Attributes
5.4.6 XML Schema
5.5 Resource Data Module
5.5.1 Introduction
5.5.2 Module Namespace
5.5.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.5.4 Module Elements
5.5.5 Module Attributes
5.5.6 Examples:
5.5.7 XML Schema
5.6 Change Tracking Module
5.6.1 Introduction
5.6.2 Module Namespace
5.6.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.6.4 Module Elements
5.6.5 Module Attributes
5.6.6 Example:
5.6.7 XML Schema
5.7 Size and Length Restriction Module
5.7.1 Introduction
5.7.2 Module Namespace
5.7.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.7.4 Module Elements
5.7.5 Module Attributes
5.7.6 Standard profiles
5.7.7 Third party profiles
5.7.8 Conformance
5.7.9 Example
5.7.10 XML Schema
5.8 Validation Module
5.8.1 Introduction
5.8.2 Module Namespace
5.8.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.8.4 Module Ele
...
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21720
First edition
2017-11
XLIFF (XML Localisation interchange
file format)
XLIFF (Format de fichier XML pour l'échange de données de
localisation)
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 749 01 11
Fax +41 22 749 09 47
copyright@iso.org
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national
standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is
normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a
subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on
that committee. International organizations, governmental and non‐governmental, in liaison
with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance
are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria
needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2
(see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in
the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received
(see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and
does not constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the
following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by OASIS (as XLIFF Version 2.0, August 2014) and was adopted,
under a special “fast‐track procedure”, by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Terminology and
other language and content resources, Subcommittee SC 5, Translation, interpreting and related
technology.
iii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
XLIFF Version 2.0
OASIS Standard
05 August 2014
Specification URIs
This version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.xml
Previous version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/cos01/xliff-core-v2.0-cos01.xml
Latest version:
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html (Authoritative)
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.pdf
http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.xml
Technical Committee:
OASIS XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) TC
Chair:
Bryan Schnabel (bryan.s.schnabel@tektronix.com), Individual
Editors:
Tom Comerford (tom@supratext.com), Individual
David Filip (davidf@ul.ie), Localisation Research Centre
Rodolfo M. Raya (rmraya@maxprograms.com), Maxprograms
Yves Savourel (ysavourel@enlaso.com), ENLASO Corporation
Additional artifacts:
This prose specification is one component of a Work Product that also includes:
XML schemas accessible from http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/schemas/
Related Work:
This specification replaces or supersedes:
XLIFF Version 1.2. 1 February 2008. OASIS Standard. http://docs.oasis-
open.org/xliff/v1.2/os/xliff-core.html
Declared XML Namespaces:
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:2.0
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
i
ISO 21720:2017(E)
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:matches:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:glossary:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:fs:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:metadata:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:resourcedata:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:changetracking:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:sizerestriction:2.0
urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:validation:2.0
Abstract:
This document defines version 2.0 of the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF). The
purpose of this vocabulary is to store localizable data and carry it from one step of the localization
process to the other, while allowing interoperability between and among tools.
Status:
This document was last revised or approved by the membership of OASIS on the above date. The
level of approval is also listed above. Check the “Latest version” location noted above for possible
later revisions of this document.
Technical Committee members should send comments on this specification to the Technical
Committee's email list. Others should send comments to the Technical Committee by using the "Send
A Comment" button on the Technical Committee's web page at http://www.oasis-
open.org/committees/xliff/.
For information on whether any patents have been disclosed that may be essential to implementing
this specification, and any offers of patent licensing terms, please refer to the Intellectual Property
Rights section of the Technical Committee web page (http://www.oasis-
open.org/committees/xliff/ipr.php).
Citation format:
When referencing this specification the following citation format should be used:
[XLIFF-2.0]
XLIFF Version 2.0. Edited by Tom Comerford, David Filip, Rodolfo M. Raya, and Yves Savourel. 05
August 2014. OASIS Standard. http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/os/xliff-core-v2.0-os.html.
Latest version: http://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html.
Notices
Copyright © OASIS Open 2014. All Rights Reserved.
All capitalized terms in the following text have the meanings assigned to them in the OASIS Intellectual
Property Rights Policy (the "OASIS IPR Policy"). The full Policy may be found at the OASIS website.
This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to others, and derivative works that
comment on or otherwise explain it or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published, and
distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this
section are included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this document itself may not be
modified in any way, including by removing the copyright notice or references to OASIS, except as needed for
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
the purpose of developing any document or deliverable produced by an OASIS Technical Committee (in which
case the rules applicable to copyrights, as set forth in the OASIS IPR Policy, must be followed) or as required
to translate it into languages other than English.
The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be revoked by OASIS or its successors or
assigns.
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ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT
THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY OWNERSHIP RIGHTS OR ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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necessarily be infringed by implementations of this OASIS Committee Specification or OASIS Standard, to
notify OASIS TC Administrator and provide an indication of its willingness to grant patent licenses to such
patent claims in a manner consistent with the IPR Mode of the OASIS Technical Committee that produced this
specification.
OASIS invites any party to contact the OASIS TC Administrator if it is aware of a claim of ownership of any
patent claims that would necessarily be infringed by implementations of this specification by a patent holder
that is not willing to provide a license to such patent claims in a manner consistent with the IPR Mode of the
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but disclaims any obligation to do so.
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the OASIS TC Administrator. OASIS makes no representation that any information or list of intellectual
property rights will at any time be complete, or that any claims in such list are, in fact, Essential Claims.
The name "OASIS" is a trademark of OASIS, the owner and developer of this specification, and should be
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© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO 21720:2017(E)
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Terminology
1.1.1 Key words
1.1.2 Definitions
1.1.3 Key concepts
1.2 Normative References
1.3 Non-Normative References
2 Conformance
3 Fragment Identification
3.1 Selectors for Core Elements
3.2 Selectors for Modules and Extensions
3.3 Relative References
3.4 Examples
4 The Core Specification
4.1 General Processing Requirements
4.2 Elements
4.2.1 Tree Structure
4.2.2 Structural Elements
4.2.3 Inline Elements
4.3 Attributes
4.3.1 XLIFF Attributes
4.3.2 XML namespace
4.4 CDATA sections
4.5 XML Comments
4.6 XML Processing Instructions
4.7 Inline Content
4.7.1 Text
4.7.2 Inline Codes
4.7.3 Annotations
4.7.4 Sub-Flows
4.7.5 White Spaces
4.7.6 Bidirectional Text
4.7.7 Target Content Modification
4.7.8 Content Comparison
4.8 Segmentation
4.8.1 Segments Representation
4.8.2 Segments Order
4.8.3 Segmentation Modification
4.9 Extension Mechanisms
4.9.1 Extension Points
4.9.2 Constraints
4.9.3 Processing Requirements
5 The Modules Specifications
5.1 Translation Candidates Module
5.1.1 Introduction
5.1.2 Module Namespace
5.1.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.1.4 Translation Candidate Annotation
5.1.5 Module Elements
5.1.6 Module Attributes
5.1.7 Example:
5.1.8 XML Schema
5.2 Glossary Module
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO 21720:2017(E)
5.2.1 Introduction
5.2.2 Module Namespace
5.2.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.2.4 Module Elements
5.2.5 Module Attributes
5.2.6 Example:
5.2.7 XML Schema
5.3 Format Style Module
5.3.1 Introduction
5.3.2 Module Namespace
5.3.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.3.4 Module Specification
5.3.5 Module Attributes
5.3.6 XML Schema
5.4 Metadata Module
5.4.1 Introduction
5.4.2 Module Namespace
5.4.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.4.4 Module Elements
5.4.5 Module Attributes
5.4.6 XML Schema
5.5 Resource Data Module
5.5.1 Introduction
5.5.2 Module Namespace
5.5.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.5.4 Module Elements
5.5.5 Module Attributes
5.5.6 Examples:
5.5.7 XML Schema
5.6 Change Tracking Module
5.6.1 Introduction
5.6.2 Module Namespace
5.6.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.6.4 Module Elements
5.6.5 Module Attributes
5.6.6 Example:
5.6.7 XML Schema
5.7 Size and Length Restriction Module
5.7.1 Introduction
5.7.2 Module Namespace
5.7.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.7.4 Module Elements
5.7.5 Module Attributes
5.7.6 Standard profiles
5.7.7 Third party profiles
5.7.8 Conformance
5.7.9 Example
5.7.10 XML Schema
5.8 Validation Module
5.8.1 Introduction
5.8.2 Module Namespace
5.8.3 Module Fragment Identification Prefix
5.8.4 Module Elements
5.8.5 Module Attributes
5.8.6 XML Schema
Appendixes
A XML Schemas and Catalog Listings (Informative)
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
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ISO 21720:2017(E)
A.1 XML Schemas Tree
A.2 XML Catalog
A.3 Core XML Schema
A.4 Support Schemas
B Specification Change Tracking (Informative)
B.1 Tracking of changes made in response to Public Reviews
B.1.1 Tracking of changes in response to the Candidate OASIS Standard Public Review
B.1.2 Tracking of changes in response to the 3rd Public Review
B.1.3 Tracking of changes in response to the 2nd Public Review
B.1.4 Tracking of changes in response to the 1st Public Review
C Acknowledgements (Informative)
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved
vi
ISO 21720:2017(E)
1 Introduction
XLIFF is the XML Localisation Interchange File Format designed by a group of multilingual content publishers,
software
...
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