Translation memory software is software that stores previously translated sentences in a database. Any new sentences to be translated are then compared with the stored sentences, with similar or identical stored sentences being retrieved for a translator to refer to. This database can then be referred to so as to ensure, for example, that the same term is always translated in the same way. When a number of different translators are using the same database, the translators can then ensure that they are all using the same terms when translating the same project. Translation memory is merely a tool to help the translator improve the quality of the translation, with all translating still being performed by the translator.

The advantages of using translation memory software are as follows.

* Improvement in quality
* Terminology consistency
* Re-use of already translated text
* Speeding up of time taken to complete translation