A client has the requirement to provide translation options on their website, most likely using an automated solution like Google Translate. A colleague and I have been discussing the best way to present that control and are both of the opinion that it makes sense for it to appear at the top of the page (so that it is immediately easy to find when arriving on the page). The client has suggested that it should appear in the footer.
Based on a quick look around the web, translation options do indeed frequently appear in the footer, so there is an argument that we should follow that convention.
EDITED to include some examples of sites with language options in the footer:
Why are language options frequently presented in the footer? Is is purely to save valuable space above the fold? Ultimately, my question is, where is the best place for this control to appear from a usability perspective?
Answer
Stock reply: It all depends on the users of the site. :D
Non-stock reply: I'm with you and your colleague. If you're of the opinion the user needs the option to translate, make it high on the page, so that a non-native speaker doesn't have to hunt for as long. I'd also make sure it doesn't have huge visual weight to detract for native speakers.
There's a reason why at the beginning of an automated phone call menu system, they have the translation option - it's the easiest place for that user to find it.
So, make sure translation is necessary for the use cases, first. Then, tell the client, if it's important enough to be on the site, the best place for it to lower the barrier to entry for the non-native speaker is near the top of the page
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