OASIS XML Localisation Interchange File Format Technical Committee

The original Call For Participation for this TC may be found at http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/tc-announce/200112/msg00000.html

The Charter for this TC was clarified on 26 February 2021. The ballot to approve the clarification can be found at https://www.oasis-open.org/committees/ballot.php?id=3575.

The Charter for this TC was modified on 14 July 2014. The ballot to approve the clarification can be found at https://www.oasis-open.org/committees/ballot.php?id=2647. The text of the previous charter can be reviewed at https://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/53625.

The Charter for this TC was modified on 27 June 2006; this change was announced at http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/tc-announce/200607/msg00001.html

The charter for this TC was modified on 5 December 2005; this change was announced at http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/tc-announce/200512/msg00002.html

The charter for this TC was previously modified on 24 July 2002; this change was announced at http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/tc-announce/200207/msg00005.html

  1. Name of the TC

    OASIS XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) TC

  2. Statement of Purpose

    The purpose of the OASIS XLIFF TC is to define, through extensible XML vocabularies, and promote the adoption of, a specification for the interchange of localisable software and document based objects and related metadata.

    Business Benefits

    In the localization industry, the following stakeholders can be benefit from XLIFF:

    • Localisation customer.

      XLIFF provides a number of benefits to the localization customer. It is an industry-standard single file format that completely encapsulates a customer’s localizable data:

      • Less dependency on vendors that are able to work with proprietary file formats.
      • Ease of file handling.
      • Tighter control on what goes to localization.
      • Controlled information flow.
      • Ease of round-trip processing.
      • Completeness of the data.
      • All advantages of XML-based processing.
      • Streamlines localization file exchange.
    • Tool Vendor

      • Focus on development of core functionality.
      • XLIFF increases the footprint of the tool vendor’s product.
      • Increased market share potential.
      • Industry standard format.
      • Complete container for localization data.
      • All advantages of XML-based processing.
    • Service provider

      • Standard file format.
      • Tool independent.
      • Incorporation with workflow.
      • Advantages of XML.
      • Open standards.

    Source and more information at: https://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/26817/xliff-core-whitepaper-1.2-cs.pdf.

  3. Scope of Work

    XLIFF defines an XML standard with extensible vocabulary that captures relevant metadata for any point in the lifecycle which can be exchanged between a variety of commercial and open-source tools. The XLIFF standard has been successfully fulfilling its purpose set by previous versions of this charter. However, the standard has to move forward as the industry moves forward. Therefore, the XLIFF TC remains committed to producing major and minor new versions and maintaining them as per developing industry needs.

    Currently the TC works on XLIFF 2.2 specification. The specifications are tool-neutral, support the entire localization process, and support common software and document data formats and mark-up languages. The specification provides an extensibility mechanism to allow the development of tools compatible with an implementer's data formats and workflow requirements. The extensibility mechanism provides controlled inclusion of information not defined in the specification.

    XLIFF TC plans to continuously work on minor versions numbered 2.x, eventually 2.x.y. Minor versions numbered 2.x will be produced by adding modules and other features. Minor versions numbered 2.x.y will be produced by correcting minor issues.

    Should significant changes to the core be required as result of industry developments, creation of a new major version will be triggered.

  4. Deliverables
    • XLIFF 2.2 Specification (HTML and pdf).
    • XLIFF 2.2 Core XML schema and schemas for modules included in the specification.
    • Conformance test suite.
    • Minor versions numbered 2.x.y.
  5. IPR Mode

    The XLIFF TC operates under the RF on RAND Mode per the OASIS IPR Policy, sections 4, 10.2.1 and 10.2.2.

  6. Audience

    The audience for the work of the XLIFF TC includes:

    • Content owners that seek to publish their content in multiple localized versions
    • Software providers for localization tools and processes
    • Technical communicators employing localization tools and processes
    • Localization service providers who need to interact seamlessly with localizable and localized content of their customers
  7. Language

    The XLIFF TC operates and publishes its work products in English.