Understanding localizaton /en-us, /en-gb etc

Start a Business
,

Topic summary

A Shopify store owner is seeking clarification on how URL-based localization (e.g., /en-us, /en-gb) functions for product pages.

Key Questions:

  • Whether Google and Shopify treat localized URLs as separate products or variations of the same item
  • How to identify and select the correct localized product versions when creating email newsletters for international customers
  • Whether the appropriate localized version automatically displays based on the visitor’s market, regardless of the URL accessed
  • If manual localized URL redirects can be configured

Context:
The question includes two example URLs for the same physical product—one standard UK version and one with /en-us/ in the path—highlighting confusion about how these variants are managed across different markets.

The discussion remains open with no responses yet.

Summarized with AI on November 1. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi I can’t get my head around how having localized products works. Can anyone clarify?

For example these are the same physical product but does Google et al see them as two products? Does shopify see them as two products? If so how do I find the various version to add to my Shopify Email newsletters for my foreign customers?

https://joestoes.co.uk/collections/felt-bowl-kits/products/make-your-own-beaded-felt-bowl-kit-two-sizes

https://joestoes.co.uk/collections/felt-bowl-kits/products/**en-us/**make-your-own-beaded-felt-bowl-kit-two-sizes

Or perhaps the correct version is always shown in that market e.g. the /en-us one will show up in the USA whether or not it’s in the URL?

Is there such a thing a localize URL redirects? Can these be made manually?

Many thanks for any help.

Amanda