53

Various Google API endpoints and webpages use a hl=<language code> parameter in the query string to set the language. Example

hl=en

or

hl=no

What does hl stand for?

Mark Amery
  • 143,130
  • 81
  • 406
  • 459
Nam G VU
  • 33,193
  • 69
  • 233
  • 372

2 Answers2

75

It stands for "host language", according to this page

Barmar
  • 741,623
  • 53
  • 500
  • 612
5

It is not intuitively obvious, but hl designates the web interface language per this page.

Jonathan M
  • 17,145
  • 9
  • 58
  • 91
  • 2
    But there's no "h" in "interface". – Barmar Jan 11 '13 at 04:41
  • 3
    Nonetheless, per the document, it designates the web interface language. And per your answer, it apparently used to (and maybe still does) stand for "host language", which, I suppose, is the web interface language. – Jonathan M Jan 11 '13 at 04:43
  • 1
    "stands for" == "is an abbreviation for" – Barmar Jan 11 '13 at 04:52