UTF-8 encoding can be good for most languages. That will allow a single encoding standard for your database. I tend to keep most of my URLs and scripts annotated in English. That makes it easier if future developers need to step in and change something system-wide.

Hi,

I am going with UTF-8 using mysql. It seems working for all languages.

Regarding the urls I think will go with these:

www.mysite.com --> en
www.mysite.com/cn --> cn
www.mysite.com/fr --> fr
...
(does www.mysite.com/en will make sense ?)

After, I'm trying to understand the best way to go for the user on the homepage:

1) if the first visit, I'll go with browser setting, then leave a cookie.
2) if the user has a cookie, I'll go with cookie preference
3) there will also be a language selector that will set the cookie language

What do you think about it ?

Thanks for help.

i think it can work...
www.mysite.com --> en
www.mysite.com/cn --> cn
www.mysite.com/fr --> fr

If you were looking to capitalize on local SEO internationally I'd suggest:

example.com --> en

example.cn --> cn

example.fr --> fr

Hi Bill,

I think your suggest is the best "ideal" way to go.

Unfortunately some of them are already taken.