> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/internationalization-and-localization.md).

# Internationalization and Localization

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[Coordinated Universal Time](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/internationalization-and-localization/coordinated-universal-time.md)
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Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time, and is the internal storage format for MariaDB timestamp values.
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[Locales Plugin](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/internationalization-and-localization/locales-plugin.md)
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The LOCALES plugin enables the INFORMATION\_SCHEMA.LOCALES table and SHOW LOCALES statement, allowing users to view all locales compiled into the server.
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[Server Locale](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/internationalization-and-localization/server-locale.md)
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Server locale settings control the language for date and time functions via lc\_time\_names and the language for error messages via lc\_messages.
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[Setting the Language for Error Messages](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/internationalization-and-localization/setting-the-language-for-error-messages.md)
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Learn how to configure the lc\_messages and lc\_messages\_dir system variables to display server error messages in a supported local language.
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[Time Zones](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/internationalization-and-localization/time-zones.md)
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How MariaDB tracks and converts time zone settings, including named time zones, the time-zone system tables, and per-session configuration.
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