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# Magic words

'''Magic words''' are special keywords within the MediaWiki syntax that instruct the parser to perform specific actions or display particular information. They aren't displayed directly on the page, but instead, are interpreted by the wiki software to generate dynamic content. Think of them as commands hidden within your wiki code that make your pages more powerful and flexible. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of magic words, categorized for clarity, and aimed at beginners.  Understanding these will greatly enhance your ability to create and maintain a robust and informative wiki.  We'll cover their syntax, common uses, and some more advanced applications.

== Core Concepts ==

Before diving into specific magic words, it's crucial to understand a few core concepts:

*   **Parser Functions:** Many magic words are actually *parser functions*. These functions take arguments and return a calculated value, which is then inserted into the page. They allow for complex logic and calculations directly within your wiki content.
*   **Variables:** Some magic words represent variables that hold specific information about the page or the wiki itself. These variables can be used to display dynamic content, such as the current date or the page's last modification time.
*   **Categorization:** Magic words play a role in categorization, allowing pages to be automatically placed into relevant categories.
*   **Syntax:** Magic words are generally enclosed in double curly braces `{{...}}`.  However, some require different syntax, which will be indicated in the descriptions below.

== Basic Magic Words ==

These magic words provide fundamental functionality for displaying basic information and managing page properties.

*   `{{CURRENTTIMESTAMP}}`: Displays the current date and time in the wiki's configured format. This is useful for noting when information was last updated. Example:  "Last updated: {{CURRENTTIMESTAMP}}"
*   `{{CURRENTVERSION}}`: Displays the current version number of the page.  Useful for tracking revisions.
*   `{{PAGENAME}}`: Displays the name of the current page. Example:  "You are currently viewing the page: {{PAGENAME}}"
*   `{{PAGENAMEE}}`: Displays the page name, URL-encoded for use in links.  Useful when constructing URLs dynamically.
*   `{{FULLPAGENAME}}`: Displays the full page name, including the namespace.  Example: If the page is "Wiki:Magic words", this will display "Wiki:Magic words".
*   `{{FULLPAGENAMEE}}`: Displays the full page name, URL-encoded.
*   `{{NAMESPACE}}`: Displays the namespace of the current page.
*   `{{NAMESPACEE}}`: Displays the namespace, URL-encoded.
*   `{{SUBJECTSPACE}}`: Displays the subject namespace of the current page.
*   `{{TALKSPACE}}`: Displays the talk namespace of the current page.
*   `{{ARTICLESPACE}}`: Displays the article namespace of the current page.
*   `{{BASEPAGENAME}}`: Displays the base name of the page, without the namespace.

== Date and Time Magic Words ==

These magic words allow you to format and display dates and times in various ways. They are particularly useful for news articles, event listings, and historical records.

*   `{{LOCALTIME: format}}`: Displays the current time based on the wiki's server time, formatted according to the specified format string.  See [[Help:Formatting dates and times]] for available format options. Example: `{{LOCALTIME: H:i:s}}` displays the current time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
*   `{{LOCALDATE: format}}`: Displays the current date based on the wiki's server time, formatted according to the specified format string. Example: `{{LOCALDATE: Y-m-d}}` displays the current date in year-month-day format.
*   `{{DATEFORMAT: date | format}}`: Formats a given date string according to the specified format string. The date string must be in a format MediaWiki recognizes.
*   `{{TIMEFORMAT: time | format}}`: Formats a given time string according to the specified format string.
*   `{{REVISIONTIMESTAMP: page | timestamp}}`: Displays a timestamp associated with a specific revision of a page.
*   `{{REVISIONDATE: page | timestamp}}`: Displays the date associated with a specific revision of a page.
*   `{{REVISIONTIME: page | timestamp}}`: Displays the time associated with a specific revision of a page.

== Page and Category Magic Words ==

These magic words are essential for managing page organization and categorization.

*   `{{DEFAULTSORT: key}}`: Specifies the default sort key for the page. This determines the order in which the page appears in categories.  Without this, the page will sort based on its title.  Example: `{{DEFAULTSORT:Category}}` will sort the page under the "C" section in categories.
*   `{{CATEGORY: category name}}`: Adds the page to the specified category. You can add multiple categories using multiple `{{CATEGORY:...}}` tags.  This is the most fundamental way to categorize pages. [[Categorization]] is a vital part of wiki organization.
*   `{{HIDDENCATEGORY: category name}}`: Adds the page to a hidden category.  Hidden categories are not displayed at the bottom of the page but are still used for organizational purposes. Useful for maintenance categories.
*   `{{NOINDEX}}`:  Prevents search engines from indexing the page.
*   `{{NOFOLLOW}}`: Prevents search engines from following links on the page.
*   `{{DISAMBIG}}`:  Marks the page as a disambiguation page. This usually displays a special disambiguation message at the top of the page.

== Parser Functions (Advanced) ==

These are more complex magic words that allow for dynamic content generation and calculations. They require a deeper understanding of MediaWiki syntax.

*   `{{#if: condition | then | else}}`: A conditional statement. If the `condition` evaluates to true (non-empty string), the `then` part is displayed; otherwise, the `else` part is displayed. Example: `{{#if: {{PAGENAME}} == "Main Page" | Welcome to the Main Page! |  }}`
*   `{{#ifeq: string1 | string2 | then | else}}`:  Checks if two strings are equal. If they are, the `then` part is displayed; otherwise, the `else` part is displayed.  Example: `{{#ifeq: {{NAMESPACE}} | Wiki | This is a wiki page. | This is not a wiki page.}}`
*   `{{#ifexist: page name | then | else}}`: Checks if a page exists. If it does, the `then` part is displayed; otherwise, the `else` part is displayed.  Example: `{{#ifexist: Help:Contents | This page exists. | This page does not exist.}}`
*   `{{#switch: variable | case1 | result1 | case2 | result2 | ... | default}}`:  A switch statement.  It compares the `variable` to each `case`. If a match is found, the corresponding `result` is displayed. If no match is found, the `default` result is displayed.
*   `{{#expr: expression}}`: Evaluates a mathematical expression. Example: `{{#expr: 2 + 2}}` displays "4".
*   `{{#time: format | timestamp}}`: Formats a timestamp according to the specified format string.  Similar to `{{LOCALTIME}}` and `{{LOCALDATE}}`, but allows you to specify a specific timestamp instead of the current time.
*   `{{#var: variable name}}`:  Retrieves the value of a defined variable. Variables can be set using extensions or custom code.
*   `{{#set: variable name = value}}`: Sets the value of a variable.  Requires appropriate extensions or configuration.
*   `{{#titlepart: page name | part number}}`: Extracts a specific part of a page name.  Useful for breaking down complex page names.
*   `{{#property: page name | property name}}`: Retrieves a property associated with a page.  Requires the Scribunto extension.

== Special Magic Words and Variables ==

These are less commonly used but can be helpful in specific situations.

*   `{{SERVER}}`: Displays the server name.
*   `{{SERVERNAME}}`: Displays the server name.
*   `{{SCRIPTURL}}`: Displays the URL of the MediaWiki installation.
*   `{{STYLEURL}}`: Displays the URL of the CSS stylesheet.
*   `{{SPECIAL:pagename}}`:  Links to a special page.  For example, `{{SPECIAL:Search}}` links to the search page.
*   `{{INT:string}}`:  Retrieves a message from the message catalog.  Useful for internationalization.  [[Internationalization]] is important for a global audience.

== Tips and Best Practices ==

*   **Documentation:** Always refer to the official MediaWiki documentation for the most up-to-date information on magic words:  [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Magic_words](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Magic_words).
*   **Testing:**  Experiment with magic words in a sandbox or test page before using them in live articles.
*   **Formatting:** Pay attention to the syntax of each magic word. Incorrect syntax will prevent it from working correctly.
*   **Performance:**  Avoid using complex parser functions excessively, as they can impact page load times.
*   **Readability:** Use magic words judiciously to enhance clarity and avoid making your wiki code overly complex.  Comments can help explain complex logic.
*   **Avoid hardcoding:** Use magic words like `{{PAGENAME}}` instead of hardcoding page names whenever possible. This makes your wiki more maintainable.
*   **Consider Extensions:**  For more advanced functionality, explore MediaWiki extensions. Extensions can add new magic words and parser functions.

== Resources & Further Learning ==

*   [[Help:Contents]]: The main help page for MediaWiki.
*   [[Help:Formatting dates and times]]: Detailed information on date and time formatting.
*   [[Help:Categories]]:  A guide to categorizing pages.
*   [[Help:Links]]:  Information on creating links within your wiki.
*   [[Manual:Parser functions]]: The official documentation for parser functions.
*   [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Category:Help:Formatting](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Category:Help:Formatting) - Formatting help pages.
*   [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Category:Help:Templates](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Category:Help:Templates) - Template help pages.
*   [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Scribunto](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Scribunto) - Scribunto Extension documentation.
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/technicalanalysis.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/technicalanalysis.asp) - Technical Analysis
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fibonacci.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fibonacci.asp) - Fibonacci retracement
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/movingaverage.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/movingaverage.asp) - Moving Averages
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rsi.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rsi.asp) - Relative Strength Index (RSI)
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bollingerbands.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bollingerbands.asp) - Bollinger Bands
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stochasticoscillator.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stochasticoscillator.asp) - Stochastic Oscillator
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/doubletop.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/doubletop.asp) - Double Top
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/doublebottom.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/doublebottom.asp) - Double Bottom
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/headandshoulders.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/headandshoulders.asp) - Head and Shoulders
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trendline.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trendline.asp) - Trend Lines
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/volume.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/volume.asp) - Trading Volume
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/candlestick.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/candlestick.asp) - Candlestick Patterns
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/supportandresistance.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/supportandresistance.asp) - Support and Resistance
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/breakout.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/breakout.asp) - Breakout
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/retracement.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/retracement.asp) - Retracement
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/macd.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/macd.asp) - Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/parabolic-sar.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/parabolic-sar.asp) - Parabolic SAR
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/williamspercentrange.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/williamspercentrange.asp) - Williams %R
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pyramiding.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pyramiding.asp) - Pyramiding
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/daytrading.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/daytrading.asp) - Day Trading
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scalping.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scalping.asp) - Scalping
*   [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/position-trading.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/position-trading.asp) - Position Trading

[[Help:Tutorial]]  [[Manual:Pages]] [[Manual:Linking]] [[Manual:Formatting]] [[Manual:Categories]] [[Manual:Templates]] [[Manual:ParserFunctions]] [[Help:Math]] [[Help:ExtensionTags]] [[Help:API]]

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