A computer-aided translation (CAT) tool is software that helps human translators convert the meanings of words from one language to another. Its primary goal is to provide a more cost-effective and time-efficient translation strategy. These tools allow translators to work with increasingly larger, manageable units, often sentences or paragraphs, making the translation process more organized. As a resource for translators, thanks to the tools' capacity and translation memory, they can reuse translated content to facilitate their work. They don't replace human translators, but rather assist them.

CAT Features and Benefits:

The main objective of CAT tools is to provide translators with features that improve the efficiency and consistency of translations. Let's discuss the most prominent features of CAT and the benefits each offers:

1. Translation Memory (™): Translation memory is a key feature; an intelligent database stores all the passages, sentences, phrases, or even single words you have previously translated, along with a portion of their original translations. When a passage similar to or matching a new document appears, the CAT tool can instantly compile the complete translation or a folder. The translator can then approve, modify, or reject the suggestion. (For more information, read about machine learning translation.)

2. Terminology Management: Consistent data requirements for specific terms, which is important for content, accuracy, and other aspects.

3. Quality Assurance (QA): Dedicated checks for errors, useful issues, and consistency.

4. Collaboration: Multiple translators, editors, language supervisors, and project managers can work simultaneously on specific projects. All feedback and discussions about the text (translation memory, dictionaries) are in one place.

5. Language Variety: Most computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools support a wide range of languages, allowing you to add custom languages ​​or extensive dialects as needed.

Types of CAT Tools:
Desktop Tools: Installed locally, these are modern and can be used offline.

Cloud-Based Tools: Accessed via release, these are excellent.

Modern Hybrid Tools: These cache between the desktop and the cloud (such as Trados and Freeze).

Some of the most popular computer-aided translation tools include:

Trados
WordFast
QNote
SmartCat
Omega T