Intl.Locale.prototype.language

The language accessor property of {{jsxref("Intl.Locale")}} instances returns the language associated with this locale.

Description#

Language is one of the core attributes of a locale. The Unicode specification treats the language identifier of a locale as the language and the region together (to make a distinction between dialects and variations, e.g., British English vs. American English). The language property of an {{jsxref("Intl.Locale")}} returns strictly the locale's language subtag.

The language property's value is set at construction time, either through the first part of the locale identifier or through the language option of the {{jsxref("Intl/Locale/Locale", "Intl.Locale()")}} constructor. The latter takes priority if they are both present.

The set accessor of language is undefined. You cannot change this property directly.

Examples#

Like other locale subtags, the language can be added to the {{jsxref("Intl.Locale")}} object via the locale string, or a configuration object argument to the constructor.

Setting the language via the locale string#

In order to be a valid Unicode locale identifier, a string must start with the language subtag. The main argument to the {{jsxref("Intl/Locale/Locale", "Intl.Locale()")}} constructor must be a valid Unicode locale identifier, so whenever the constructor is used, it must be passed an identifier with a language subtag.

const locale = new Intl.Locale("en-Latn-US");
console.log(locale.language); // "en"

Overriding language via the configuration object argument#

While the language subtag must be specified, the {{jsxref("Intl/Locale/Locale", "Intl.Locale()")}} constructor has an optional configuration object argument, which can override the language subtag.

const locale = new Intl.Locale("en-Latn-US", { language: "es" });
console.log(locale.language); // "es"

Specifications#

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility#

{{Compat}}

See also#

• {{jsxref("Intl.Locale")}}
• Unicode language subtag in the Unicode locale data markup language spec