What is Azure Translator?
Azure Translator is an AI service for machine translation that translates text and documents into numerous languages. Since the introduction of Microsoft Foundry, the service belongs to the Foundry Tools, uses neural machine translation for natural-sounding results, and can be customized to your terminology via Custom Translator or Adaptive Custom Translation.
Core Features
- Text Translation API: Translates text in real time via REST API with automatic language detection
- Document Translation: Translates documents asynchronously as a batch or synchronously as a single file while preserving formatting and layout
- Custom Translator: Trains domain-specific translation models with your own translation memories
- Adaptive Custom Translation: Adapts supported LLMs to specific terminology using a few thousand example segment pairs, without full model training
- Transliteration and Dictionary Lookup: Converts text between writing systems and provides alternative translations
- Language Detection: Automatically detects the source language
Typical Use Cases
Document Workflow: Companies automatically translate contracts, manuals, and marketing materials. Document Translation preserves tables, images, and formatting for minimal post-editing effort.
Multilingual Customer Support: Support teams use real-time translation in chat systems. Customers write in their language, agents respond in their language, and both see the translated version.
Content Localization: Websites and apps are automatically translated into target languages. Custom Translator or Adaptive Custom Translation ensures product names and technical terms are correctly translated.
Benefits
- Neural translation for natural-sounding text
- Domain customization possible without full ML training via Adaptive Custom Translation
- Document translation with layout preservation, synchronous and asynchronous
- Container deployment possible for on-premises scenarios
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure Translator: we implement multilingual workflows, adapt translation models for your industry, and integrate translation into your existing systems.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Azure Translator in Foundry Tools?
Azure Translator is Microsoft's cloud-based neural machine translation service for text and documents. Since the introduction of Microsoft Foundry, the former Azure AI Translator service is marketed as part of the Foundry Tools, while the APIs remain compatible.
Can I translate entire documents?
Yes, Document Translation translates Word, PDF, PowerPoint, and other formats while preserving layout, both asynchronously as a batch and synchronously for single files.
How does customization to my own terminology work?
Two options are available: Custom Translator trains a dedicated translation model with your translation memories; the newer Adaptive Custom Translation adapts supported LLMs using a few thousand example segment pairs, without full model training.
Is my data used for training?
No, text sent through standard translation is not used to train the general models. With Custom Translator and Adaptive Custom Translation, the training data you provide stays within the context of your Azure tenant.
Can Azure Translator run on-premises?
Yes, Translator containers can be deployed on-premises or in your own environment for scenarios with strict data residency requirements.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of Azure (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by Azure.
