# generaltranslation: General Translation Core SDK: DataFormat
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/core/types/data-format.mdx
---
title: DataFormat
description: Enumeration of supported content format types for translation
---

## Overview

`DataFormat` specifies the format of translatable content.

```typescript
type DataFormat = 'JSX' | 'ICU' | 'I18NEXT' | 'STRING';
```

## Type definition

### Values

| Value | Description | Content Type | Use Case |
|-------|-------------|--------------|----------|
| `'JSX'` | JSX/React component format | `JsxChildren` | Rich UI components with elements and variables |
| `'ICU'` | ICU MessageFormat | `IcuMessage` (string) | Complex formatting with plurals, dates, numbers |
| `'I18NEXT'` | i18next message format | `I18nextMessage` (string) | Simple interpolation, existing i18next projects |
| `'STRING'` | Plain string format | `string` | Simple text content |

### Format characteristics

| Format | Variables | Pluralization | HTML Elements | Date/Number Formatting |
|--------|-----------|---------------|---------------|----------------------|
| **JSX** | ✅ Rich variables | ✅ Via branching | ✅ Full HTML support | ✅ Via variables |
| **ICU** | ✅ `{variable}` syntax | ✅ Built-in plurals | ❌ Text only | ✅ Built-in formatters |
| **I18NEXT** | ✅ `{{variable}}` syntax | ✅ Via count | ❌ Text only | ✅ Via formatters |
| **STRING** | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |

---

## Examples

### Format specification

```typescript copy
const icuEntry: TranslateManyEntry = {
  source: 'Hello {name}',
  metadata: { dataFormat: 'ICU' }
};

const plainEntry: TranslateManyEntry = {
  source: 'Hello, world!',
  metadata: { dataFormat: 'STRING' }
};
```

---

## Notes

* DataFormat determines how content is processed by the translation system
* Format specification in metadata ensures proper content processing
* Auto-detection is possible but explicit specification is recommended

## Related types

* [`Content`](/docs/core/types/Content) - Union of all content format types
* [`JsxChildren`](/docs/core/types/jsx-children) - JSX format content