# gt-node: General Translation Node.js SDK: Translating strings
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/node/guides/translating-strings.mdx
---

title: Translating strings
description: How to translate handler strings, registered messages, and dynamic content with General Translation in gt-node.
related:
  links:
    - /docs/node/guides/detecting-locale
    - /docs/node/guides/storing-translations
    - /docs/node/guides/configuring

---

`gt-node` offers three ways to translate a string. Which you use depends on where the string lives and whether it is known ahead of time.

*Note: All three run inside a [`withGT`](/docs/node/guides/detecting-locale) scope so they know the request's locale.*

## Translate handler strings with `getGT` [#get-gt]

For strings written directly in a handler, await [`getGT`](/docs/node/reference/functions/get-gt) to get a translation function, then call it. Interpolate values with ICU placeholders.

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

app.get('/api/greeting', async (req, res) => {
  const gt = await getGT();
  res.json({
    message: gt('Hello, world!'),
    welcome: gt('Welcome, {name}!', { name: 'Alice' }),
  });
});
```

This is the default choice for one-off strings. Add `$context` to disambiguate a term.

## Reuse registered messages with `msg` [#msg]

For strings defined outside a handler — shared constants, error messages, enums — register them with [`msg`](/docs/node/reference/functions/msg) at module scope, then resolve them with [`getMessages`](/docs/node/reference/functions/get-messages).

```ts
import { msg, getMessages } from 'gt-node';

const NOT_FOUND = msg('Resource not found.');

app.use(async (req, res) => {
  const m = await getMessages();
  res.status(404).json({ error: m(NOT_FOUND) });
});
```

## Translate dynamic content with `tx` [#tx]

For content not known ahead of time and not pre-generated, use [`tx`](/docs/node/reference/functions/tx) to translate at runtime. It makes a network request on a cache miss, so reserve it for genuinely dynamic strings.

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

const translated = await tx(`Status: ${status}`);
```

*Note: `tx` does not use ICU placeholders — embed values with a template literal before calling it.*

## Choose an approach [#choose]

- One-off handler strings → `getGT`.
- Shared constants and errors → `msg` with `getMessages`.
- Dynamic, unpredictable content → `tx`.
- Centralized, key-based copy → a dictionary with [`getTranslations`](/docs/node/reference/functions/get-translations).

## Next steps

- /docs/node/guides/detecting-locale
- /docs/node/guides/storing-translations
- /docs/node/guides/configuring