External Links

External Links

External links are a fundamental part of building a useful and interconnected wiki, such as this one running MediaWiki 1.40. They allow you to connect your content to resources outside of the wiki itself, providing readers with additional information, sources, and context. This article will comprehensively explain how to create, manage, and best utilize external links within your MediaWiki environment. We’ll cover the syntax, best practices, considerations for link quality, and advanced techniques.

What are External Links and Why Use Them?

An external link is a hyperlink that directs users from a page on your wiki to a page on a different website. Unlike internal links, which connect pages *within* the wiki, external links point *outside* of it.

Why are they important?

Credibility & Verification: Linking to reputable sources supports the information presented in your wiki and allows readers to verify facts. This is crucial for maintaining the trustworthiness of your content. Consider using links to academic papers, official government websites, and well-established news organizations.
Further Reading: External links provide a gateway for users to delve deeper into a topic. A wiki article can provide an overview, while external links allow interested readers to explore specialized information.
Context & Background: Links can offer historical background, alternative perspectives, or related information that enhances understanding. For example, an article about a historical figure could link to a biography on a dedicated website.
Attribution: When referencing the work of others, providing a link is a form of attribution and avoids plagiarism. This is especially important when using copyrighted material or quoting sources.
User Experience: Well-placed external links improve the overall user experience by providing valuable resources and reducing the need for readers to search elsewhere for information.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax for creating an external link in MediaWiki is as follows:

`Link Text`

Let's break this down:

`[` and `]` : These brackets enclose the link definition.
`https://www.example.com` : This is the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the external website. *Always* include the `http://` or `https://` prefix. Without it, the link will not work.
`Link Text` : This is the text that will be displayed as the hyperlink on the wiki page. It should be descriptive and clearly indicate where the link leads. Avoid generic text like "click here".

Example:

`Wikipedia` will display as Wikipedia.

Advanced Syntax & Attributes

MediaWiki offers several ways to customize external links.

Titles (Tooltips): You can add a title attribute to provide a tooltip that appears when the user hovers their mouse over the link. This is useful for providing additional context or a brief description.

`Link Text Title=This link leads to an example website.`

Link Classes: While less common for basic external links, you can assign CSS classes to links for styling purposes. This requires some knowledge of CSS and your wiki's stylesheet.

`Link Text class=external-link`

Protocol-Relative URLs: You can use protocol-relative URLs (e.g., `//www.example.com`) which automatically adapt to the current protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) of the page. This can be useful for ensuring compatibility. However, be aware of potential security implications.

`Link Text`

Best Practices for External Linking

Creating effective external links requires careful consideration. Here are some best practices:

Relevance: Only link to websites that are directly relevant to the topic of your article. Avoid linking to unrelated or spammy sites.
Reliability: Prioritize links to reputable and trustworthy sources. Avoid linking to sites with known biases or inaccurate information. Consider the source's authority and expertise.
Accuracy: Ensure that the linked URL is correct and functional. Broken links create a frustrating user experience. Regularly check and update your links. Tools like Broken Link Checker can help with this.
Descriptive Link Text: Use clear and descriptive link text that accurately reflects the content of the linked page. Avoid vague phrases like "click here". For example, instead of "Click here for more information," use "Read more about Technical Analysis on Investopedia."
Open in New Tab/Window: By default, MediaWiki opens external links in the same tab or window. Consider using the `target="_blank"` attribute (although this is generally discouraged for accessibility reasons - see section on Accessibility) to open the link in a new tab or window. This allows users to easily return to your wiki page. *However*, this is not directly supported in standard MediaWiki syntax. You would need to use an extension or custom JavaScript.
Avoid Excessive Linking: Don't overload your article with too many external links. Focus on the most valuable and relevant resources. A few well-chosen links are more effective than a long list of questionable ones.
Use "nofollow" Attribute (When Appropriate): The `nofollow` attribute tells search engines not to follow the link. This can be useful for links to untrusted sources or affiliate links. Similar to `target="_blank"`, this isn’t directly supported in standard MediaWiki syntax and requires an extension.
Consider Link Rot: Websites change and disappear. “Link rot” is a common problem. Regularly review your external links to ensure they are still valid. Consider archiving important pages using services like the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and linking to the archived version.
Check for Reciprocal Linking: While not essential, consider whether the linked website might be willing to link back to your wiki. Reciprocal linking can improve both websites' search engine rankings.

Accessibility Considerations

While opening links in new tabs/windows might seem user-friendly, it can cause accessibility issues for users with disabilities, particularly those using screen readers. Unexpectedly opening a new tab can disrupt their navigation flow.

Clear Indication: If you *must* open a link in a new tab, provide a visual indication to the user (e.g., an icon). However, this also requires custom code.
Focus Management: Ensure that focus is properly managed when a new tab is opened.
Keyboard Navigation: Make sure links are easily navigable using the keyboard.

Prioritize accessibility when designing your wiki and consider the needs of all users.

Managing External Links

MediaWiki provides tools for managing external links across your wiki.

WhatLinksHere: The Special:WhatLinksHere special page allows you to find all pages that link to a specific external URL. This is useful for identifying and updating broken links or making changes to linked content.
LinkSearch: The Special:LinkSearch special page allows you to search for all pages that contain a specific external link.
Category:BrokenLinks: Consider creating a category (e.g., ) to mark pages containing broken external links. This makes it easier to identify and fix them. You can use bots or manual processes to populate this category.
Extensions: Several MediaWiki extensions can help with link management, such as:

   * BrokenLinkCheck: Automatically detects and reports broken links.
   * External Link Manager: Provides more advanced control over external links, including the ability to add disclaimers or track link usage.

External Links and SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

External links can indirectly influence your wiki’s search engine optimization (SEO).

Outbound Links: Linking to high-quality, relevant websites can signal to search engines that your wiki is a valuable resource.
Inbound Links: Getting other websites to link *to* your wiki is a crucial factor in improving its search engine ranking. Focus on creating high-quality content that others will want to link to.
Anchor Text: The text used for external links (anchor text) can also influence SEO. Use descriptive and relevant anchor text.

However, avoid manipulative link-building practices, such as excessive or irrelevant linking. Focus on providing a positive user experience, and SEO will naturally follow.

Examples of Useful External Links related to Trading & Finance

Here are some examples of external links that would be relevant in a wiki about trading and finance:

Financial News & Market Data:

   * Reuters
   * Bloomberg
   * MarketWatch
   * Yahoo Finance
   * TradingView (Charting and social networking for traders)

Brokerage & Trading Platforms:

   * Interactive Brokers
   * TD Ameritrade
   * IG

Educational Resources:

   * Investopedia (Definitions and explanations of financial terms)
   * Corporate Finance Institute (Financial modeling and analysis)
   * BabyPips (Forex trading education)

Regulatory Bodies:

   * U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
   * Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - UK

Technical Analysis & Indicators:

   * School of Trading (Technical analysis tutorials)
   * Fidelity - Technical Analysis
   * Moving Average
   * Relative Strength Index (RSI)
   * Fibonacci Retracements
   * Bollinger Bands
   * MACD

Trading Strategies:

   * DailyFX - Trading Strategies
   * Trading Strategies - BabyPips
   * The Pattern Site (Chart Patterns)

Market Trends & Analysis:

   * CMC Markets - Market Analysis
   * FXStreet (Forex News and Analysis)
   * Trading Economics (Economic Indicators)

Risk Management:

   * Risk Management - Investopedia
   * Risk Tolerance Quiz - Betterment

Remember to always evaluate the credibility and reliability of any external source before linking to it. Regularly review and update your links to ensure they remain accurate and functional. A well-maintained set of external links adds significant value to your wiki and enhances the user experience.

Help:Links MediaWiki:Syntax Special:WhatLinksHere Special:LinkSearch Internet Archive Wayback Machine

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