What Is Translation Memory (TM) and How Does It Work?

Translation memory (TM) is a database that stores source sentences paired with their approved translations, called segments, and suggests them whenever the same or similar text appears again. That reuse cuts redundant work and translation costs, and it keeps phrasing consistent across documents. According to Smartling’s 2024 State of Translation Report , translation volumes grew 30% year over year, which makes reuse essential at scale.