# node: getLocale
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/node/api/get-locale.mdx
---
title: getLocale
description: API reference for the getLocale function
---

## Overview

The `getLocale` function returns the current locale for the active request context.

```js
import { getLocale } from 'gt-node';

const locale = getLocale(); // 'en-US'
```

<Callout>
  **Request Context Required:**
  `getLocale` must be called within a [`withGT`](/docs/node/api/with-gt) callback so it knows which locale to use.
</Callout>

## Reference

### Parameters

None.

### Returns

`string` — The current BCP 47 [locale code](/docs/core/locales) (e.g., `'en-US'`).

---

## Examples

### Basic usage

```js title="handler.js"
import { withGT, getLocale } from 'gt-node';

app.use((req, res, next) => {
  const locale = req.headers['accept-language']?.split(',')[0] || 'en-US';
  withGT(locale, () => {
    console.log(getLocale()); // 'en-US'
    next();
  });
});
```

---

## Next steps

- See [`getLocales`](/docs/node/api/get-locales) for the full list of supported locales.
- See [`getLocaleProperties`](/docs/node/api/get-locale-properties) for locale metadata.