NavigatorLanguage.language

The NavigatorLanguage.language read-only property returns a string representing the preferred language of the user, usually the language of the browser UI.

Syntax

const lang = navigator.language

Value

A DOMString. lang stores a string representing the language version as defined in BCP 47. Examples of valid language codes include "en", "en-US", "fr", "fr-FR", "es-ES", etc.

Note that in Safari on iOS prior to 10.2, the country code returned is lowercase: "en-us", "fr-fr" etc.

Example

if (/^en\b/.test(navigator.language)) {
  doLangSelect(window.navigator.language);
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'NavigatorLanguage: language' in that specification.
Living Standard Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
languageChrome Full support 1
Notes
Full support 1
Notes
Notes Returns the browser UI language, not the value of the Accept-Language HTTP header.
Edge Full support 12
Notes
Full support 12
Notes
Notes In Chromium versions of Edge, this returns the browser UI language, not the value of the Accept-Language HTTP header.
Firefox Full support 1
Notes
Full support 1
Notes
Notes Prior to Firefox 4, this property's value was also part of the user agent string, as reported by navigator.userAgent. Starting in Firefox 5, this property's value is based on the value of the Accept-Language HTTP header.
IE Full support 11
Notes
Full support 11
Notes
Notes Closest available (non-standard) properties are userLanguage and browserLanguage.
Opera Full support 4Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 1
Notes
Full support 1
Notes
Notes Returns the browser UI language, not the value of the Accept-Language HTTP header.
Chrome Android Full support 18
Notes
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Returns the browser UI language, not the value of the Accept-Language HTTP header.
Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Notes
Full support 1.0
Notes
Notes Returns the browser UI language, not the value of the Accept-Language HTTP header.

Legend

Full support
Full support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also