本地化和国际化两个概念经常可以互换地使用。以上在软件开发环境中的定义清晰地显示了其差别。在自由／开源软件开发中，“本地化”和“国际化”最好的例子都是 Mozilla 工程。 Mozilla 是最有名和使用最广泛的自由／开源浏览器。Mozilla 工程背后的开发者们通过设计和开发使软件能在不同的区域设置下工作，因而 Mozilla 是国际化的。而各地的开发者通过 Mozilla 工程提供的导则和本地化工具可以修改软件使其适应特定的地区，因此 Mozilla 是本地化的。这样的修改一般包括翻译用户界面、文档和包装，以及改变和定制功能以符合当地的使用习惯。
任何人都可以参与 Mozilla 的国际化和本地化，因为它是一个自由／开源的软件项目。Mozilla 源代码是在 OSI 认可的 Mozilla 公共许可（Mozilla Public License, MPL）授权下发布的。Mozilla 工程的目的是服务广大的因特网群体，而这个全球性的群体是由属于众多语言群体的用户所构成。Mozilla 工程的目标之一是“鼓励 mozilla.org 产品使用任何语言的本地化”。
Mozilla 的完全本地化版本包括34种不同的语言。而其他许多语言的本地化工作仍在继续 [94]。
Localization and internationalization are often used interchangeably. The definitions provided above with reference to software development clearly show the distinction. In terms of FOSS development, an excellent example of both ‘internationalization’ and ‘localization’ is the Mozilla Project. Mozilla is the most well known and widely used of the FOSS web browsers available. Mozilla is internationalized because the community of developers behind the Mozilla Project have designed and developed their software to function in multiple locales. Mozilla is localized when local developers, using guidelines and localization toolkits provided by the Mozilla Project, modify or adapt the product to suit a particular locale. This modification often involves translating user interfaces, documentation and packaging, as well as changing and customizing features to match the usage patterns of that locale.
Internationalization and localization of Mozilla by anyone is possible because it is a FOSS project. The Mozilla source code is distributed under the Mozilla Public License (MPL), which is a license that is based on and approved by the Open Source Initiative. The Mozilla Project aims to serve the greater Internet community, which it recognizes as a global community made up of users belonging to a great array of language groups. One of the goals of the Mozilla Project is to “advocate the localization of mozilla.org products into any world language”.
Fully localized versions of Mozilla cover 34 different languages. Localization efforts are still continuing for most of the other languagesi.