In this article I am going to explain how to handle multiple language in your ASP.NET MVC web site.

This a very basic step.

Step 1

Create ASP.NET MVC web application

Step 2

Add new controller called BaseController. (any name as you wish)

override BeginExecuteCore() method.

 protected override IAsyncResult BeginExecuteCore(AsyncCallback callback, object state)
 {
 string language = "en";
 HttpCookie cultureCookie = Request.Cookies["_culture"];
 if (cultureCookie != null)
 language = cultureCookie.Value;

 Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo(language);

 return base.BeginExecuteCore(callback, state);
 }

Step 3

Inherit Home Controller from BaseController

public class HomeController : BaseController

step 4

Add action to change language.

To store the culture I have used cookies. It is a simple way.

 public ActionResult ChangeLanguage(string lang) {
 HttpCookie cookie = Request.Cookies["_culture"];
 if (cookie != null)
 cookie.Value = lang; 
 else
 {

 cookie = new HttpCookie("_culture");
 cookie.Value = lang;
 cookie.Expires = DateTime.Now.AddYears(1);
 }
 Response.Cookies.Add(cookie);

 return RedirectToAction("Index");
 }

step 5 

Add resource files.

Different languages are stored in resource files.

For this demo I have used English, Dutch and french languages.

I have added three resource files naming as follow

Resource.resx -> default resource file for English language

Resource.fr.resx -> French language

Resource.nl.resx -> Dutch

Add each language words for the English word “Wel Come”

add words as above and build the project.

step 6

add view to change language. Wellcome text will be changes according to language selections.

It is used in view as @Resources.Resource.wellcome .

Behind the seen it is checked current culture and set appropriate word using resource files.

step 7 

Done. Run the project and click links to change language