--- title: "Feature: #97637 - Translate default value of form elements" manual: "TYPO3 Core Changelog" version: "main" permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/changelog:feature-97637-1772528713" source: "Changelog/14.2/Feature-97637-TranslateDefaultValueOfFormElements.rst" typo3-version: "14.2" typo3-major: 14 type: "feature" issue: 97637 forge: "https://forge.typo3.org/issues/97637" tags: ["Frontend", "ext:form"] rendered: "2026-09-23T15:30:34+00:00" --- # Feature: #97637 - Translate default value of form elements {#feature-97637-1772528713} See [forge#97637](https://forge.typo3.org/issues/97637) ## Description {#description} The TYPO3 form framework now supports translating the `defaultValue` property of form elements via XLF translation files. Previously only properties such as `label`, `placeholder`, and rendering options could be translated through the form framework's translation mechanism. The `defaultValue` property was always rendered as-is from the form definition, regardless of the current frontend language. Now, `defaultValue` is translated before rendering using the same XLF key conventions already established for other form element properties. The translation is resolved in the following order, with the first match winning: 1. `.element..properties.defaultValue` 1. `element..properties.defaultValue` 1. `element..properties.defaultValue` ## Example {#example} Given a form element defined as follows: **fileadmin/form_definitions/contact.form.yaml** ```yaml identifier: contact-form type: Form prototypeName: standard renderables: - type: Page identifier: page-1 renderables: - type: Text identifier: bestDish label: 'Best dish?' defaultValue: 'Hamburger' renderingOptions: translation: translationFiles: - 'EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang.xlf' ``` The translation file can now provide a translated default value: **EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/Form/de.locallang.xlf** ```xml

Hamburger Kartoffel

``` Or, to apply the translation to all `Text` elements across all forms: **EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/Form/de.locallang.xlf** ```xml Hamburger Kartoffel ``` ## Impact {#impact} Form integrators can now provide language-specific default values for form elements. The translation is applied automatically before rendering using the existing translation file configuration in `renderingOptions.translation.translationFiles`. Array-based `defaultValue` properties are intentionally excluded from translation. These occur in multi-value elements such as `MultiCheckbox` or `MultiSelect`, where the values are option keys that must match the configured `properties.options` exactly. Translating them would break the value-to-option mapping. The option labels themselves can be translated via the existing `properties.options.[*]` translation mechanism.