Machine translation is a term used to describe the process of using computer software to translate text and speech between natural languages. Machine translation software and algorithms have matured a lot over the last decade, to a point where they can now be used to create translations that are understood by the majority of people in most situations. However, machine translation is a very difficult process, and it is far from perfect. In most situations where an accurate translation is required and mistakes are not an option, people choose to use the services of a translation agency (Übersetzungsbüro) . A translation agency utilises professional people in order to translate text and voice from one natural language to another, and is much more able to deal with the idioms and contextual relationships between world languages.

On the most basic level, machine translation performs the simple substitution of words from one natural language to another. However, despite the fact that this is what many people think translation is, simple word for word translation is a myth. In order to create an accurate translation of a source language into a target language, it is vital to have a deep understanding of the context of both languages and the various language idioms that are involved. This human translation process can be described as an initial decoding of the meaning of the original or source language, and a final re-encoding of this meaning using the words of the target language.

While software and the process of machine translation is able to provide an effective word for word and even phrase for phrase translation, computers are unable to grasp the meaning of the original text of speech and are therefore unable to produce an accurate translation. In order to come up with a truly accurate and meaningful translation document, people often need to use the services of a professional translation agency. Many translation agencies specialise in particular world languages, and can produce results that are natural, accurate, and guaranteed.