RESX file format

In software development, hard-coding text directly into the application logic makes localization difficult and error-prone. The RESX format solves this by externalizing text into a structured file containing key/value pairs. The "key" identifies the string in the code, while the "value" contains the text displayed to the user.

For localization teams, RESX files are standard industry practice. CAT tools (Computer-assisted translation) like Trados can parse these files automatically, extracting the translatable text while protecting the code structure. This ensures that linguists only edit the content meant for translation, preventing accidental bugs. Once translated, the RESX files are compiled into satellite assemblies for specific locales (e.g., fr-FR for French), allowing the application to switch languages dynamically based on user preferences. RWS supports RESX localization through automated workflows that integrate directly with development environments, ensuring continuous localization and rapid updates.