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The translate:validate command helps you maintain quality and completeness of your translations by checking for missing keys across all language files.

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Basic Usage

Run the validation command to check all language files: 
php artisan translate:validate
This will scan all configured languages and domains, comparing them against your source language to identify any missing translations.

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Example Output

Here’s what you’ll see when running the validation command: 
AI Translator: Validation
Model: anthropic/claude-3-haiku-20240307
Source: de
Languages: cn, en, es, fr, it, pl
Domains: test

Checking test in es...

No missing translations for test in es

Checking test in fr...

****************************************************
*     Missing translations for `test` in `fr`:     *
****************************************************

+---------------+-------------+
| Key           | Value       |
+---------------+-------------+
| something_new | Etwas neues |
| testing       | Testen      |
+---------------+-------------+
...

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Validation Output Modes

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Standard Mode (Default)

By default, validation shows a summary table of all domains: 
php artisan translate:validate
The output displays:
  • ✔ (green checkmark) for complete translations
  • Number in red for the count of missing keys
  • ”–” in red for completely missing files

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Verbose Mode

Use the --verbose or -v flag for detailed output with missing key tables: 
php artisan translate:validate --verbose
This shows:
  • Each domain being checked
  • Each language being validated
  • Detailed tables of missing keys with their source values
  • Success messages for complete translations
Use verbose mode when you need to see exactly which keys are missing and their source values. This is helpful when planning translation work.

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Validate Specific Files

Check only specific language files using the --name option: 
php artisan translate:validate --name=validation
Validate multiple files: 
php artisan translate:validate --name=validation,auth,passwords

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Validate Specific Languages

Check specific target languages only: 
php artisan translate:validate --language=fr
Validate multiple languages: 
php artisan translate:validate --language=fr,es,de

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Change Source Language

By default, validation uses your application’s locale as the source language. Override this with --base-language: 
php artisan translate:validate --base-language=en

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Custom Language Directory

If your translations are in a non-standard location, use the --lang-dir option: 
php artisan translate:validate --lang-dir=/path/to/lang
This is useful for packages or applications with custom translation file locations.

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Combining Options

Combine options for targeted validation: 
php artisan translate:validate --name=auth --language=fr,es --verbose
This command will:
  • Only validate the auth language file
  • Only check French and Spanish translations
  • Show detailed output with missing key tables

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Workflow Integration

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Pre-Deployment Checks

Add validation to your CI/CD pipeline to ensure translation completeness: 
# GitHub Actions example
- name: Validate translations
  run: php artisan translate:validate

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Regular Maintenance

Run validation regularly to catch missing translations early:
1

Run validation

php artisan translate:validate --verbose
2

Review missing keys

Check the output tables for missing translations
3

Generate translations

php artisan translate
4

Verify completeness

php artisan translate:validate

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Understanding the Output

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Complete Translations

When a language file is fully translated, you’ll see: 
No missing translations for auth in fr

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Missing Translations

When keys are missing, the output shows:
  • The domain and language affected
  • A table with the missing key names
  • The source language values for reference
Long key names and values are automatically truncated in the table output. Use the full key names when translating.

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Missing Files

If an entire language file doesn’t exist, it will be marked with ”–” in the summary table.

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Next Steps

Translate Files

Generate missing translations with AI

Interactive Mode

Refine translations interactively

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