Menu item associations

In a multilingual Joomla site, menu item associations connect menu items with their translated counterparts. When users switch languages, Joomla loads the matching page instead of the start page. Associations are configured in the menu item’s options.

  • Function and purpose

    On multilingual Joomla websites, menu item associations link menu items to their equivalents in other languages. This ensures that when a user changes the language, they land on the corresponding page rather than the start page. Associations are set up in each menu item’s options once multiple languages are enabled.

    Use cases

    • Language switching: Redirects visitors to the equivalent page in the selected language.
    • Consistent structure: Maintains identical menu structures across different languages.
    • User experience: Prevents 404 errors and improves usability on multilingual sites.

    Important notes

    • Prerequisite: Associations are only relevant on sites with the multilingual feature enabled.
    • One‑to‑one mapping: Each menu item can be associated with one item in each language.
    • Maintenance: Keep associations up to date to avoid confusing your visitors.

    See also