Skip to content
Locize
LoginRegister

TBX / UTX Terminology Files

Format and workflow for the standard terminology / glossary exchange formats.

TBX (TermBase eXchange) and UTX (Universal Terminology eXchange) are the standard formats for exchanging terminology and glossaries between localization tools. A glossary is the curated dictionary of terms — product names, brand vocabulary, technical jargon, legal terms — that need to translate consistently across every page, every translator, and every market. TBX is the richer, ISO-standard XML format with full metadata (definition, part of speech, usage notes, approval status); UTX is the simpler tab-delimited alternative. Both serve the same purpose: making sure "Sign up" doesn't translate three different ways across your product.

Key facts
  • TBX: ISO 30042 XML terminology format — .tbx
  • UTX: AAMT tab-delimited format — .utx
  • Encoding: UTF-8
  • What they hold: source term + translation + metadata (definition, POS, status)
  • Vs. TMX: TBX/UTX is for terminology (curated dictionary); TMX is for translation memory (auto-stored translations)
  • Used for: brand glossaries, technical glossaries, legal terminology exchange

TBX vs UTX: which to use?

TBX is the ISO standard, used by professional terminology systems and most CAT tools. It supports rich metadata: definitions, parts of speech, gender, usage notes, related terms, and approval status. Use TBX when you have a terminology team or formal glossary review process.

UTX is simpler — essentially a tab-delimited list with header rows that declare which columns hold what. It is easier to author and edit by hand, and easier to round-trip through Excel. Use UTX when your glossary is small (under a few hundred terms) and your team works in spreadsheets.

In practice: many TMS platforms accept both. Locize supports .tbx and .utx (with .xlsx as a UTX fallback) and converts between them on export.

Glossary vs translation memory: which is which?

  • Glossary (TBX / UTX): curated dictionary of single words or short phrases. You build it. It enforces preferred terminology. Manual but high-leverage.
  • Translation memory (TMX): automatic record of every sentence you have translated. The TMS builds it. It speeds up translation through fuzzy matching.
  • Both run alongside each other. A modern TMS surfaces glossary matches and TM matches in the same translation editor, on every segment.

Common terminology workflows

  • Bootstrapping a project glossary. Author 50–200 critical terms in your TMS, export as TBX, share with translators.
  • Sharing terminology with an agency. Export your glossary as TBX or UTX, the agency imports into their CAT tool, translators see your preferred terms during translation.
  • Building a multilingual glossary over time. Add terms as they come up during translation. Locize exports the glossary on demand.
  • Migrating between TMS platforms. Export glossary as TBX, import into the new platform — terminology moves with the rest of the project.

How to use TBX / UTX in Locize

Locize imports both .tbx and .utx. Once imported, glossary terms surface automatically in the CAT view as translators work — they see your preferred translation alongside any source word that matches a glossary entry:

  1. Get started
  2. Import your .tbx or .utx file in the glossary view
  3. Export back to TBX for sharing with agencies or backing up

Frequently asked questions

What is a TBX file?

TBX (TermBase eXchange) is the ISO standard XML format for exchanging terminology — multilingual glossaries with definitions, parts of speech, usage notes, and approval status. A .tbx file is what you hand a translator to make sure your product names, technical terms, and brand vocabulary translate consistently. TBX is to terminology what TMX is to translation memory.

What is a UTX file?

UTX (Universal Terminology eXchange) is a simpler, tab-delimited terminology format developed by AAMT (Asia-Pacific Association for Machine Translation). It is easier to author and edit by hand than TBX, but less expressive — UTX is essentially a plain-text glossary, while TBX supports rich terminological metadata.

What is the difference between a glossary and translation memory?

A glossary (TBX / UTX) is a curated dictionary of terms — usually single words or short phrases — with their preferred translations and metadata (definition, part of speech, usage notes). Translation memory (TMX) is an automatic record of every full sentence you have translated. Glossary enforces consistency on key terms; TM speeds up translation by reusing already-translated content. Both run alongside each other in a modern TMS.

How do I create a glossary?

Start with a list of terms that need consistent translation: product names, brand vocabulary, technical jargon, legal terms. Add the preferred translation per language, plus a definition and a usage note. Export as TBX or UTX, or — easier — author it directly in your TMS, which can export to either format on demand.

How do I import or export TBX / UTX in Locize?

Locize imports and exports both formats: <code>.tbx</code> and <code>.utx</code>. Once imported, glossary terms surface automatically in the CAT view as you translate — translators see your preferred translation alongside any source word that matches a glossary term.

Do I need a glossary for every project?

Not strictly, but yes for any project with brand-critical, technical, or legal vocabulary. The cost of inconsistent terminology is usually higher than the cost of building the glossary — a customer-facing string that translates "Sign up" three different ways across pages is a quality bug.

Keep terminology consistent across every translator.
Import TBX or UTX, manage glossary in Locize, surface preferred terms automatically in the CAT view.