layout - Where to place currency symbol when localizing and what to do with odd symbols

Is there a suggested, single location to place the currency symbol every time for any given locale?

For example, always on the left with a space before the amount like this:

R 10.00

$ 10.00
€ 10.00
¥ 10.00

Is this acceptable even in instances when the currency symbol is usually placed to the right of the amount, or should you keep track of the placement per locale?

Also, what is the best way to handle currencies with odd unicode characters when you plan on targeting devices that don't support the displaying of these characters? Do you default to using the three letter international code? If you do then do you still obey left-or-right placement or can you place all on the left?

Answer

If you're going to bother localizing your interface, you might as well do it fully and respect the language or region's common practices.

As you mention localization, I assume this means that you will change the placement of the currency symbol based on the locale setting of the user's interface, rather than the locale of the currency symbol used.

Take French¹, example:

1. French places the currency symbol after the amount (to maintain uniformity with the rest of the metric measures, 2 $ as 2 km).


2. Similarly, French uses , as a decimal and space as a thousands separator (1 000,59 $)

So, if you're localizing the interface for a French user, you would display 100 ¥; 10,00 R; 10,00 €.

Programatically, this is not difficult to achieve; see Stack Overflow's Localization tag and Programming's Localization tag and numerous resources for your development language of choice already on the internet.

{1} Source: I'm French-Canadian and my example localizes for fr_CA.