Switching language: display alternative or active first?

Question

What is the best practices to display and switch between two languages. For example, I'm at website.com/en/ and I want to switch in french (website.com/fr/). Do you think I should display the active language first or propose the other language available first?

For me, I think we should show the active state because it's the pattern that most user are accustomed. What do you think?

Answer 1

If you only have two options then a dropdown is pointless complexity. Replace your current implementation with a link such as "view this page in English" or the French alternative when the page is rendered with English text.

Answer 2

Show the current state. With the control minimized, it acts as a label.

(And what would you do if you had more than 2 languages?)