Understanding .pot, .po, and .mo Files
⏱ 3 minLast updated: —
The 3 File Types
| File | What It Is | Who Creates It | Editable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| .pot | Template with all translatable strings | Your plugin/theme build tools | No |
| .po | Translations for one language | POForge (or you manually) | Yes |
| .mo | Compiled binary WordPress reads | POForge (or local tools) | No |
The Translation Pipeline
Diagram: POT → PO → MO pipeline.
Where Do .pot Files Come From?
Your WordPress development tools (WP-CLI, build scripts) generate .pot files. Check your plugin's /languages/ folder.
💡Tip: Check Your Plugin's /languages/ Folder
If you don't have a .pot file, look inside your plugin's /languages/ directory.
What POForge Does With Each File
Accepts: .pot files (for new translations) and .po files (for editing/updating). Generates: translated .po files and compiled .mo files.
Was this article helpful?