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

## Overview

The `getRequestLocale` function extracts the preferred locale from a request's `Accept-Language` header and matches it against your configured locales.

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

const locale = getRequestLocale(req); // 'fr'
```

<Callout>
  **Requires initialization:**
  Call [`initializeGT`](/docs/node/api/initialize-gt) before using `getRequestLocale` so it knows which locales are supported.
</Callout>

## Reference

### Parameters

<TypeTable
  type={{
    "request": {
      type: 'RequestLike',
      description: 'An object with a headers property containing the request headers. Works with Express, Fastify, and any framework that exposes headers as Record<string, string | string[] | undefined>.',
      optional: false,
    },
  }}
/>

### Returns

`string` — The best matching BCP 47 [locale code](/docs/core/locales) from your configured locales, or the `defaultLocale` if no match is found.

---

## Examples

### Express middleware

```js title="middleware/locale.js"
import { withGT, getRequestLocale } from 'gt-node';

export function localeMiddleware(req, res, next) {
  const locale = getRequestLocale(req);
  withGT(locale, () => next());
}
```

### Combining with other strategies

Use `getRequestLocale` as a fallback when no explicit preference is set:

```js title="middleware/locale.js"
import { withGT, getRequestLocale } from 'gt-node';

export function localeMiddleware(req, res, next) {
  const locale =
    req.query.lang ||
    req.cookies?.locale ||
    getRequestLocale(req);

  withGT(locale, () => next());
}
```

---

## Next steps

- See [`getLocale`](/docs/node/api/get-locale) to read the locale inside a `withGT` context.
- See the [Locale Detection & Middleware](/docs/node/guides/middleware) guide for full middleware patterns.