Edit conflict

Edit Conflict

An edit conflict occurs in MediaWiki when two or more users attempt to edit the same page concurrently, and save their changes simultaneously. This situation arises because MediaWiki, like many collaborative platforms, employs a system to prevent data loss and maintain the integrity of content. Instead of blindly overwriting one user’s changes with another’s, the system detects the conflict and presents both sets of modifications to the users, requiring them to resolve the discrepancies manually. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding edit conflicts, how they happen, how to recognize them, and, most importantly, how to resolve them effectively. This guide is geared towards beginners, assuming limited prior experience with collaborative editing.

How Edit Conflicts Happen

The core reason for edit conflicts is the inherent nature of concurrent editing. Imagine two people working on a shared document. If both make changes independently and then try to save at the exact same time, the system needs a way to determine which changes to keep. MediaWiki uses a locking mechanism, but it isn't a strict, exclusive lock.

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. **Page Load:** You click "Edit" on a page. MediaWiki provides you with a copy of the current page content. 2. **Independent Editing:** You and another user both begin making changes to *your respective copies* of the page content. Neither of you sees the other's changes during this phase. 3. **Simultaneous Saving:** You both finish your edits and click "Save Page". 4. **Conflict Detection:** MediaWiki checks if the page content has been modified by someone else *after* you loaded the initial edit page. It compares your proposed changes to the current version of the page. 5. **Conflict Notification:** If a difference is detected, MediaWiki doesn’t allow either save to proceed immediately. Instead, it displays an "Edit Conflict" message.

The timing is crucial. Even a fraction of a second difference can trigger a conflict. It’s more likely to happen on popular pages with frequent edits, or when multiple users are collaborating on the same section of an article. The speed of your internet connection and server load can also play a role, though a minor one.

Recognizing an Edit Conflict

When an edit conflict occurs, you’ll be presented with a special page that looks different from the standard editing interface. Here's what to expect:

**Conflict Message:** A prominent message at the top of the page will clearly state "Edit conflict detected!".
**Two Versions of the Content:** The page will display *two* text boxes.

   * **"Your edit"**: This box contains the changes you made.
   * **"Current version"**: This box contains the current version of the page, including the changes made by the other user(s). This is the version of the page as it exists *right now*.

**Diff View (Optional):** MediaWiki often provides a "diff" or "show changes" view, visually highlighting the differences between your edit and the current version. This is extremely helpful for identifying the areas of conflict. Look for colored lines (typically added lines are green, removed lines are red). Understanding diffs is a crucial skill in MediaWiki editing.
**Edit Summary Fields:** Both edit summary fields will be present, allowing you to review and modify them.
**Save Button Changes:** The "Save Page" button is often replaced with options to resolve the conflict (see below).

The appearance of these elements can vary slightly depending on your skin, but the core information remains consistent.

Resolving an Edit Conflict

Resolving an edit conflict requires careful consideration and manual merging of the conflicting changes. There are several approaches you can take:

1. **Copy and Paste:** This is the most common and reliable method.

  * Carefully review both "Your edit" and the "Current version".
  * Identify the conflicting sections – the areas where changes overlap.
  * Manually copy the portions of each edit that you want to keep into a single version in the edit box.  This might involve combining elements from both edits, or choosing one version over the other.
  * Delete any redundant or conflicting content.

2. **Diff View Integration:** Utilize the diff view to pinpoint the exact changes made by each user. This helps you understand the context of each modification and make informed decisions about merging. 3. **Edit Summary Review:** Read the edit summaries provided by both users. These summaries often explain the *reason* for the changes, which can guide your merging process. For example, if one user’s summary says “Fixed typo in introduction,” and the conflict is in the introduction, you might prioritize their change. Understanding edit summaries is vital. 4. **"Keep your version" (Use with Caution):** Some interfaces offer a button to simply discard the other user’s changes and save your own. *Avoid using this unless you are absolutely certain your changes are correct and the other user’s changes are demonstrably incorrect or harmful.* This is generally considered bad practice as it disregards the contributions of other editors. 5. **"Keep their version" (Use with Caution):** Similarly, there might be a button to discard your own changes and save the other user’s. Use this only if you realize your changes were incorrect or unnecessary. 6. **Revert and Re-edit:** If the conflict is particularly complex, you can revert your changes (discarding your edits) and then reload the page. This gives you a fresh copy of the current version, which you can then edit again, incorporating the ideas from your original edits. This is a good strategy for avoiding further conflicts. Learn about reverting edits.

- Important Considerations During Resolution:**

**Content Integrity:** Ensure that the final version of the page is accurate, coherent, and consistent with the overall style and guidelines of the wiki.
**Avoid Edit Wars:** If you disagree with another user’s changes, don’t engage in an "edit war" – repeatedly reverting each other’s edits. Instead, discuss the issue on the talk page of the article and reach a consensus.
**Be Respectful:** Assume good faith. The other editor is likely trying to improve the wiki just as you are.
**Double-Check:** Before saving, carefully review your merged version to ensure you haven’t introduced any new errors or inconsistencies.

Preventing Edit Conflicts

While edit conflicts are inevitable, you can minimize their occurrence by following these practices:

**Preview Your Edits:** Always use the "Show preview" button before saving. This allows you to identify potential issues and avoid unnecessary saves.
**Edit Smaller Sections:** Focus on editing smaller, self-contained sections of the page. This reduces the likelihood of overlapping with other users.
**Communicate on Talk Pages:** If you’re planning a major revision, discuss it on the talk page first. This gives other users a chance to coordinate their efforts and avoid conflicts.
**Break Up Large Edits:** If you have a large number of changes, consider breaking them up into smaller, more manageable edits.
**Be Aware of Popular Pages:** If you’re editing a popular page, be extra cautious and expect a higher chance of encountering edit conflicts.
**Use Visual Editor (with Caution):** The Visual Editor can sometimes handle conflicts more gracefully, but it's not foolproof, and understanding the underlying MediaWiki syntax is still essential.
**Consider User Scripts:** Advanced users can employ user scripts that provide additional tools for managing edit conflicts, such as automatic diff highlighting or conflict resolution assistance.

Advanced Scenarios

**Multiple Conflicts:** Sometimes you may encounter multiple edit conflicts – meaning the page has been edited by more than one user while you were editing. The process is the same: carefully compare and merge all conflicting versions.
**Complex Revisions:** If the conflicting edits are complex and involve significant restructuring of the page, it may be helpful to collaborate directly with the other user(s) on the talk page or through a shared editing platform.
**Template Conflicts:** Edit conflicts can also occur within templates. Resolving these requires understanding the template’s syntax and the changes made to it.
**Category Conflicts:** Less common, but conflicts can arise when modifying categories assigned to a page. Ensure category assignments remain correct after resolving the conflict.

Resources and Further Learning

**Help:Edit Conflicts:** [1] – The official MediaWiki help page on edit conflicts.
**Wikipedia’s Guide to Editing:** [2] – Provides a general overview of editing on Wikipedia, including information on resolving edit conflicts.
**MediaWiki Manual:** [3] – The official documentation for MediaWiki.
**Diff Tools:** Explore different diff tools to visually compare text files: [4](https://diffchecker.com/), [5](https://www.textcompare.org/)
**Version Control Systems:** Understanding concepts from version control systems like Git can be helpful for managing complex edits: [6](https://git-scm.com/)

Understanding edit conflicts is a fundamental aspect of collaborative editing in MediaWiki. By recognizing them, resolving them effectively, and taking steps to prevent them, you can contribute to the creation of high-quality, accurate, and reliable content. Don’t be discouraged if you encounter conflicts – they are a normal part of the process. With practice, you’ll become proficient at handling them with ease. Remember to always prioritize content integrity, respect other editors, and communicate effectively.

Help:Contents MediaWiki syntax Talk pages Reverting Diffs Edit summaries Visual Editor Templates Categories Help:Editing

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