How to Use Firefox Translations to Translate Websites in Your Browser
it’s possible to have your favorite websites translated into your native or preferred language while using the popular Firefox browser. This is possible with the Firefox Translations add-on, which works in-browser and is free.
Here, you’ll learn more about Firefox Translations, how the add-on works, how to install and use the add-on, and how Firefox Translations compares with other cloud-based translation services.
How Does Firefox Translations Work?
You may already be familiar with the likes of Interpreter mode in Google Assistant, but wonder how translation tools work. To translate languages, cloud-based services send your data to centralized data centers where GPU clusters deploy large language models to handle the translations.
However, this is not the case with Firefox Translations. Mozilla’s Firefox Translations deploys all the necessary language Machine Learning tools locally, and automatically translates websites directly in your browser.
This offers complete privacy and anonymity, allowing you to translate websites easily without giving away your personal data to third parties in the process.
With Firefox Translations, you can fill a web form in your own language and have it dynamically translated to the page’s language. It also flags low-confidence translations in red so that you can be aware of potential translation errors.
Firefox Translations currently supports 10 major languages, which are:
Seven more languages are in the works, including Russian, Persian (Farsi), Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Norwegian Bokmål. Wondering what language you’re seeing on a website? Try thesepopular language finder services.
How to Install and Use Firefox Translations
Here’s how to install and use Firefox Translations to translate websites in Firefox:
How to Use Firefox Translations to Translate a Website
Firefox Translations is super easy to use. Here’s how to translate a a whole site with Firefox Translations.
There are several additional settings to consider. If you selectOptionson the extension’s toolbar, you’ll findNever offer translations, which simply removes the toolbar from the tab, andNever translate this site. On non-English websites, theNever translate [language]box will appear in the menu, too.
Translation preferencesleads you to a final setting that might interest you. UnderLanguage, clickExceptionsto see and remove languages and websites you’ve excluded from being translated.
Firefox Translations vs. Cloud-Based Translators
So, how does Firefox Translations compare with other cloud-based translation services likeGoogle Translate’s capabilities on Androidand PC. What about otherpopular online translators for real-world uses?
The major difference between Firefox Translations and other cloud-based translators is that whereas the latter sends out your data to centralized servers to be processed and translated via GPU, the former handles this process locally on the client-side using your CPU. We’ve covered thedifferences between a GPU and a CPU.
This means that no data leaves your computer while translating a website with Firefox Translations. It ensures complete privacy for your data, and serves as a model for more privacy-focused tech products for real-time applications.
Translate Websites With Ease Using Firefox Translations
There are many use cases for Firefox Translations and for online translators in general. For instance, if you stumble upon important information while browsing, you can translate it and forward it to family members or friends in a language they understand.
As online translators become more efficient, accurate, and accessible, we should see more client-side translators like Firefox Translations that work for websites and even word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Google Docs allows you to translate documents between more than 100 languages. Here’s how to use it.
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