Next.js Integration: useLocale Hook Documentation for next-intlayer

This section offers detailed documentation on the useLocale hook tailored for Next.js applications within the next-intlayer library. It is designed to handle locale changes and routing efficiently.

Importing useLocale in Next.js

To utilize the useLocale hook in your Next.js application, import it as shown below:

import { useLocale } from "next-intlayer"; // Used for managing locales and routing in Next.js

Usage

Here’s how to implement the useLocale hook within a Next.js component:

"use client";

import { Locales } from "intlayer";
import { useLocale } from "next-intlayer";

const LocaleSwitcher = () => {
  const { locale, defaultLocale, availableLocales, setLocale } = useLocale();

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Current Locale: {locale}</h1>
      <p>Default Locale: {defaultLocale}</p>
      <select value={locale} onChange={(e) => setLocale(e.target.value)}>
        {availableLocales.map((loc) => (
          <option key={loc} value={loc}>
            {loc}
          </option>
        ))}
      </select>
    </div>
  );
};

export default LocaleSwitcher;

Parameters and Return Values

When you invoke the useLocale hook, it returns an object containing the following properties:

• locale: The current locale as set in the React context.
• defaultLocale: The primary locale defined in the configuration.
• availableLocales: A list of all locales available as defined in the configuration.
• setLocale: A function to change the application's locale and update the URL accordingly. It takes care of prefix rules, whether to add the locale to the path or not based on configuration. Utilizes useRouter from next/navigation for navigation functions like push and refresh.
• pathWithoutLocale: A computed property that returns the path without the locale. It is useful for comparing URLs. For example, if the current locale is fr, and the url fr/my_path, the path without locale is /my_path. Utilizes usePathname from next/navigation to get the current path.

Conclusion

The useLocale hook from next-intlayer is a crucial tool for managing locales in Next.js applications. It offers an integrated approach to adapt your application for multiple locales by handling locale storage, state management, and URL modifications seamlessly.