# Overview of the Cloud Translation API Cloud Translation API can translate text for more than 100 language pairs. If you don't know the language of your source text, Cloud Translation API can detect it for you. For a list of all of the supported languages, see [Supported languages](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/languages.md.txt). As an enterprise organization, you can include translated text in existing internal workflows. For example, you might have a global support team that receives customer cases in many different languages. You can add Cloud Translation API into your workflow to translate those customer cases into the language spoken by your support team members. By using Cloud Translation API, you improve the overall efficiency of your support team because they don't need to manually translate text themselves or rely on others. Cloud Translation API scales seamlessly and allows unlimited character translations per day. However, there are restrictions on content size for each request and request rates. Additionally, you can use quota limits to manage your budget. For more information, see [Quotas and limits](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/quotas.md.txt). > [!NOTE] > **Note:** No customer data or translations are used to improve Cloud Translation API models. For more information about data usage, refer to the [Data usage FAQ](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/data-usage.md.txt). ## Cloud Translation API editions and models The Cloud Translation API comes in two different editions, namely a [Basic edition](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#basic_ed) and an [Advanced edition](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#advanced_ed). For a list of the different features supported by each, see the [edition comparison](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#supported_features). It gives you a [choice of models](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/compare_models), so that you can pick one that's suited to your particular application. ## Cloud Translation - Basic API The Basic edition is accessed through [v2 client libraries](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/reference/libraries/v2/overview-v2.md.txt), and requires minimal configuration, accepting API keys for authentication as well as service accounts. It only gives access to the unmodified Google [Neural Machine Translation (NMT) model](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/nmt-model). It's a good fit for applications that need to translate casual user-generated content such as chat, social media, or comments. If you're planning a new project, you may want to choose the Advanced edition instead of the Basic edition, to take advantage of better security, more features, and the new service improvements that the Advanced edition will continue to make going forward. ## Cloud Translation - Advanced API The Advanced edition is accessed through [v3 client libraries](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/reference/libraries/v3/overview-v3.md.txt) and requires service account authentication that's integrated with IAM roles. It offers a [choice of models](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#models), including the latest Translation LLM (TLLM) model as well as the NMT model with and without customization. It also offers features such as glossaries, batch translation, document translation, and more: - [Glossaries](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#glossaries): A glossary is a custom dictionary that you create to translate domain-specific terms correctly and consistently. - [Batch requests](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#batch): Batch requests let you make asynchronous requests that translate large amounts of text. - [Document Translation](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#document): This feature lets you translate documents such as PDF files while preserving their original format and layout. - [IAM roles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#iam): IAM roles let you secure your translation requests through Identity and Access Management. You can create service accounts and grant them permissions using IAM roles. Note that Cloud Translation - Advanced API does not support API keys. - [Labels](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#labels): You can add user-defined labels (key-value pairs) to your translation requests to track usage and enable granular billing reports. - [Regional endpoint](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/api-overview.md.txt#endpoint): Using a regional endpoint, you can exercise control over where the resources for your project are stored and processed. ## Advanced API features Using Cloud Translation - Advanced API rather than Cloud Translation - Basic API gives you access to the following features that can make your translation solution more robust and better suited to your specific use case: ### Model selection and customization [Cloud Translation - Advanced API model selection](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/compare_models) lets you dynamically select different models, including models that you customize to suit your particular application. ### Glossaries A glossary is a custom dictionary that Cloud Translation - Advanced API uses to correctly and consistently translate domain-specific terms, named entities, and other kinds of terms that are specific to you. For example, you can use a glossary to specify a specific translation for terms such as "Google Summer of Code," "Gmail confidential mode," or "placement performance report." You can also use glossaries to prevent certain words, such as borrowed words or product names, from being translated. For information about how to use glossaries, refer to [Creating and using glossaries](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/glossary.md.txt). ### Batch requests [Batch translation requests](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/batch-translation.md.txt) are asynchronous requests that translate input from Cloud Storage buckets. Cloud Translation - Advanced API performs the batch translation as a long-running operation and writes the output to a Cloud Storage bucket that you specify. Inline requests for batch translation are not supported. ### Document Translation Document Translation lets you directly translate existing documents, such as PDF and DOCX files, to a target language. Document Translation preserves the original format so that translated documents have the same layout and format as the original documents. For example, Document Translation keeps paragraph breaks and headings so that your translated content is divided in the same way as in the original document. Cloud Translation - Advanced API features, such as glossaries and customized NMT models also work with Document Translation. For example, if you already have a customized NMT model that you use for text translations, you can use that same model for Document Translation. For more information about supported file types and how to translate documents, refer to [Translate documents](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/translate-documents.md.txt). ### IAM roles Cloud Translation - Advanced API integrates with IAM to provide additional security for your translation requests, enable fine-grained access control, and support integration with custom NMT models. You must [add users and service accounts](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/granting-roles-to-service-accounts) to one of the following roles to grant those accounts access to Cloud Translation - Advanced API. For information about creating service accounts, refer to [Creating and managing service accounts](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/creating-managing-service-accounts) in the IAM documentation. | Role | Role ID | Description | |---|---|---| | **Cloud Translation API Viewer** | `roles/cloudtranslate.viewer` | Can access get and list operations. | | **Cloud Translation API User** | `roles/cloudtranslate.user` | Includes the permissions of `roles/cloudtranslate.viewer`. Can translate text using Google's NMT model and custom NMT models in online and asynchronous (batch) mode. Can use Document Translation. Can detect language. Can list supported languages for NMT models. Can use glossaries for translation. | | **Cloud Translation API Editor** | `roles/cloudtranslate.editor` | Includes the permissions of `roles/cloudtranslate.user`, and can create and delete glossaries, and cancel or delete long-running operations. | | **Cloud Translation API Admin** | `roles/cloudtranslate.admin` | Includes the permissions of `roles/cloudtranslate.editor`, and can set IAM policies and grant IAM permissions for the Cloud Translation API. Has all IAM permissions for the Cloud Translation API. | To see a list of permissions that are contained in each role, refer to [Understanding roles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/roles-permissions/cloudtranslate.md.txt). These pre-configured roles address many typical use cases. However, you might need a role that includes a custom set of permissions. For example, you might want to create a role that allows a user to create a glossary in a project, without letting them delete or update existing glossaries in the project. In those cases, you can create an [IAM custom role](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/creating-custom-roles.md.txt) that meets your needs. For information on managing IAM roles, refer to [Granting, changing, and revoking access to resources](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/granting-changing-revoking-access.md.txt) and [Granting roles to service accounts](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/manage-access-service-accounts.md.txt). ### Labels Cloud Translation - Advanced API supports adding user-defined labels (key-value pairs) to `TranslateText`, `BatchTranslateText` and `DetectLanguage` requests. Information about a request's usage is forwarded to the billing system where you can break down your billing charges by filtering on your labels. For more information about user-defined labels, refer to [Reporting usage with labels (Advanced)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/labels.md.txt). ### Regional endpoint By default, Cloud Translation - Advanced API stores and processes resources in a global location, which means there is no guarantee that resources remain within a particular location. Instead of using the default global endpoint, you can use a regional endpoint to keep resources within a particular location, such as the European Union. For more information, refer to [Specify a regional endpoint](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/endpoints.md.txt). ## Edition comparison The following table shows which features are available in each edition. | Feature | Basic | Advanced | |---|---|---| | Translate with the NMT model | Yes | Yes | | Translate with the Translation LLM | No | Yes | | Translate with Adaptive Translation models | No | Yes | | Translate with custom models | No | Yes | | Translate multiple strings in a single request | Yes | Yes | | Batch translations with Cloud Storage | No | Yes | | Translate documents | No | Yes | | Glossary support (control terminology) | No | Yes | | Train custom models | No | Yes | | Language Detection | Yes | Yes | | Integrated REST API | Yes | Yes | | Integrated gRPC API | No | Yes | | Service Account | Yes | Yes | | API Key | Yes | No | | Audit logging | No | Yes | | Supports HTML | Yes | Yes | | Supports 100+ Languages | Yes | Yes | | Romanization support | No | Yes | | Transliteration support | No | Yes | | Adaptive Translation | No | Yes | | Multi-regional endpoint support | No | Yes | | VPC Service Controls support | No | Yes | Refer to [Cloud Translation - Advanced API features](https://docs.cloud.google.com/intro-to-v3) for more details on Cloud Translation - Advanced API. ## Pricing Cloud Translation API charges you on a monthly basis based on the number of characters that you send. For more information, see [Pricing](https://cloud.google.com/translate/pricing). ## Resources and further reading - To start using the API, get [set up](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/setup.md.txt) and then try the [quickstart guide](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/translate-text.md.txt). - [Compare supported models](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/compare-models) - [Customize the NMT model](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/automl-beginner) - [Customize the Translation LLM](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/advanced/custom-translations.md.txt) - [Supported languages](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/languages.md.txt) - [Supported formats](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/docs/supported-formats.md.txt) - [Perform adaptive translation](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/adaptive-translation) - [Migrate to Translation Advanced](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/migrate-to-v3) - For answers to general questions about Cloud Translation API, refer to the [General FAQs](https://docs.cloud.google.com/translate/faq.md.txt) page.