Please use flags to represent languages in language switchers

Navigating them is ten times easier with flags compared to using language names the web developer speaks.

The next step is ensuring the text matches the actual language it represents.

Some examples 👇

This is stupid, no flags and only English. Basically selecting the language requires the visitor to know their own language in English. The globe icon is good, though.

Duolingo does this well. The only thing missing is an icon next to the dropdown—perhaps a flag or a globe icon would work well. Text, by definition, is in one language.

While a flag isn't a language, it represents one. Do you write in American or British English? Use the corresponding flag—it's that simple.

Writing in Dutch but feel Flemish is left out? If you're not using any Flemish words, use the Dutch flag—and vice versa.

At http://simpleanalytics.com, we use the European flag to ensure people understand that we are not a U.S. company:

Source: https://x.com/adriaandotcom/status/1870016294957003053