CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation)

Computer-assisted translation (CAT) is software designed to support translators throughout their translation process.  Unlike machine translation (MT)—where a computer generates translations automatically—CAT tools keep humans in control while automating repetitive tasks.

The core feature of CAT tools is translation memory, an intelligent database that stores pairs of source text and their translations.  When translators encounter identical or similar segments in new documents, the tool automatically suggests or inserts the previous translation. Translators can accept, modify, or reject these suggestions, maintaining quality and context awareness.  CAT tools also organize work by breaking documents into manageable segments (typically sentences) and displaying source and target languages side-by-side for easy editing.

CAT tools significantly improve consistency by maintaining uniform terminology and style across documents and projects.  For organizations expanding globally, CAT tools reduce time-to-market and translation costs while maintaining quality. Moreover, they transform translation from a purely manual process into an efficient, scalable operation that balances automation with human expertise.

CAT tools operate through a straightforward workflow: A translator uploads a document, and the software extracts translatable text while filtering out images and formatting codes.  The tool segments the content into phrases or sentences and displays them in a two-column interface—source language on one side, translation field on the other.

As the translator completes each segment, the tool saves the source-target pair to its translation memory database. Over time, this growing database becomes increasingly valuable: when identical or similar segments appear in future projects, the tool recognizes them and auto-fills translations, potentially reducing translation time by 40-60%. This creates a compounding efficiency gain—the more you translate, the more matches the tool can reuse.

Imagine translating a 80-page product manual from English to Spanish. On page 1, you translate "Click the Save button" as "Haz clic en el botón Guardar." The CAT tool stores this pair in its translation memory.

On page 15, the same phrase appears. Instead of retranslating it manually, the tool recognizes the match and auto-fills "Haz clic en el botón Guardar" in the target field. You review it, confirm it's correct, and move forward instantly.

By page 80, dozens of repeated phrases have been auto-filled, cutting your translation time nearly in half. Additionally, every instance of "Save button" uses identical terminology, ensuring consistency throughout the manual—something that would be difficult to maintain manually across 80 pages.