# gt-node: General Translation Node.js SDK: getTranslations
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/node/reference/functions/get-translations.mdx
---

title: getTranslations
description: Get a General Translation dictionary resolver for the current request locale. API reference for getTranslations.

---

An async function that returns a `t` function for resolving dictionary entries by id. Use it with a dictionary configured through [`initializeGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/initialize-gt) to translate centralized, key-based copy per request.

## Overview [#overview]

Await `getTranslations` inside a [`withGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/with-gt) scope to get a synchronous `t(id, options?)` function, then look up dictionary entries by id.

```ts
import { getTranslations } from 'gt-node';

const t = await getTranslations();
const title = t('page.title');
```

Signature:

```ts
getTranslations(rootId?: string): Promise<TFunctionType>

type TFunctionType = ((id: string, options?: TranslationVariables) => string) & {
  obj: (id: string) => DictionaryObjectTranslation;
};
```

*Note: `getTranslations` must be called within a [`withGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/with-gt) callback so it knows which locale to use, and requires a `dictionary` (or [`loadDictionary`](/docs/react/reference/functions/load-dictionary)) configured on [`initializeGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/initialize-gt).*

## How it works [#how-it-works]

- **Dictionary lookup.** `t(id)` resolves the entry at `id` in the dictionary and returns its translation for the active locale, falling back to the source entry when a translation is missing.
- **Unknown ids throw.** If the source dictionary has no entry for `id`, `t(id)` throws `Dictionary entry <id> cannot be found`. This is the one translation path in `gt-node` that throws rather than falling back to a source string.
- **Root scoping.** Pass `rootId` to scope all lookups under a prefix, so `getTranslations('page')` lets you call `t('title')` instead of `t('page.title')`.
- **Interpolation.** Pass variables in the options object to interpolate into the entry using `{key}` syntax.
- **Object subtrees.** `t.obj(id)` returns a nested subtree of the dictionary as a plain object of translated strings.

## Parameters [#parameters]

`getTranslations` takes an optional `rootId`. The returned `t` function takes:

| Parameter | Description | Type | Optional | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [`rootId`](#root-id) | Prefix applied to every lookup id. | `string` | Yes | — |
| [`id`](#id) | The dictionary entry id to resolve. | `string` | No | — |
| [`options`](#options) | Variable values to interpolate into the entry. | `TranslationVariables` | Yes | `{}` |

### `rootId` [#root-id]

**Type** `string` · **Optional**

A prefix applied to every id passed to `t`. When set, `t('title')` resolves `rootId.title`.

### `id` [#id]

**Type** `string` · **Required**

The id of the dictionary entry to resolve, using dot notation for nested entries (for example, `'page.title'`).

### `options` [#options]

**Type** `TranslationVariables` · **Optional**

A record of variable values to interpolate into the resolved entry using `{key}` syntax.

## Returns [#returns]

**Type** `Promise<TFunctionType>`

Resolves to the `t` function. Calling `t(id, options?)` returns the translated string; `t.obj(id)` returns a translated object subtree.

## Examples [#examples]

```ts title="server.js"
// Configure a dictionary at startup
import { initializeGT } from 'gt-node';

initializeGT({
  defaultLocale: 'en',
  locales: ['en', 'es', 'fr'],
  dictionary: {
    page: { title: 'Welcome', greeting: 'Hello, {name}!' },
  },
});
```

```ts title="handler.js"
// Resolve dictionary entries for the request locale
import { withGT, getTranslations } from 'gt-node';

function handleRequest(locale) {
  return withGT(locale, async () => {
    const t = await getTranslations();
    return {
      title: t('page.title'),
      greeting: t('page.greeting', { name: 'Alice' }),
    };
  });
}
```

```ts title="handler.js"
// Scope lookups with a rootId
const t = await getTranslations('page');
const title = t('title'); // resolves 'page.title'
```

## Notes [#notes]

- Unknown dictionary ids throw; keep dictionary keys in sync between your source and code.
- For inline strings, use [`getGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/get-gt); for module-scope constants, use [`msg`](/docs/node/reference/functions/msg) with [`getMessages`](/docs/node/reference/functions/get-messages).