Help:Linking Pages
- Help:Linking Pages
Linking pages is a fundamental skill in using a wiki, and crucial for building a navigable and informative knowledge base like this one. This guide will provide a comprehensive introduction to linking within MediaWiki, covering the basics, advanced techniques, and best practices for creating effective links. This article assumes you are using MediaWiki version 1.40 or later.
What is a Link and Why Use Them?
A link (also called a hyperlink) is a reference to another page or resource. In a wiki environment, links connect related articles, allowing users to navigate seamlessly between information. Effective linking improves:
- Readability: Links allow readers to easily explore topics in more detail.
- Organization: Links establish relationships between articles, creating a structured knowledge base.
- Discoverability: Links help users find relevant information they might not have otherwise discovered.
- Context: Links provide additional context and background information.
Without links, a wiki would be a collection of isolated pages. Links are what transform it into a cohesive and valuable resource. Understanding how to create and use links effectively is therefore paramount to contributing to, and benefitting from, this wiki.
Basic Linking: Internal Links
Internal links point to other pages *within the same wiki*. This is the most common type of linking you’ll do. The syntax for creating an internal link is:
For example, if you want to link to the page "Help:Contents", you would write:
This will render as: Help:Contents
When you save the page, MediaWiki will automatically create the link. If the page "Help:Contents" doesn't exist yet, the link will appear in a distinctive color (usually red) indicating it’s a *red link* – meaning the page needs to be created. Clicking a red link will take you to a page where you can create the missing article.
Linking to Sections within Pages
You can also link directly to a specific section within a page. To do this, use the following syntax:
For example, to link to the "Basic Linking" section of this page, you would use:
`Help:Linking Pages#Basic Linking`
This will render as: Help:Linking Pages#Basic Linking
Notice the `#` symbol. This tells MediaWiki to jump to the section with the specified name. Section names are automatically generated from the heading levels (e.g., `== Basic Linking ==` creates a section name of "Basic Linking"). Spaces in section names are replaced with underscores automatically.
Using Link Text (Labels)
Instead of displaying the page name as the link text, you can use custom text. This is often preferable for clarity and readability. The syntax is:
`[Link Text|Page Name]`
For example:
`[Help Page|Help:Contents]`
This will render as: [Help Page|Help:Contents]
This allows you to use a more descriptive phrase, like "Help Page," instead of the technical "Help:Contents." This is especially useful when linking to pages with complex or less intuitive names.
Advanced Linking Techniques
Beyond the basics, MediaWiki offers several advanced linking options.
Linking to Pages with Spaces in the Name
If a page name contains spaces, you need to use a special character or encode the spaces. The most common method is to use underscores (`_`) instead of spaces:
However, if you *must* use spaces directly in the link, you can enclose the entire page name in double square brackets and use the `.` character to represent a space:
This is generally less preferred due to readability concerns.
Linking to Pages with Special Characters
Page names can contain various special characters, but some require encoding. For instance:
- `|` (pipe) is used to separate link text from the page name. To include a literal pipe in a page name, use `|`.
- `:` (colon) is used to create namespace prefixes (like "Help:"). To include a literal colon in a page name, use `:`.
- Other special characters might also need to be encoded using their HTML entity codes.
Using Link Classes
MediaWiki allows you to apply CSS classes to links. This is useful for styling links differently based on their purpose or destination. The syntax is:
`link class="my-custom-class"`
For example:
This would apply the CSS class "external-link" to the link, allowing you to style it using your wiki's CSS stylesheet. This is a more advanced technique requiring knowledge of CSS.
Linking to Files (Images, Documents, etc.)
You can link to files stored in the wiki’s upload directory. The syntax is:
This will display "Description" as a link to the image "Example.jpg." If you want to display the image itself, instead of a link, use the standard image syntax:
or
`
` for a thumbnail with a caption.
Linking to External Websites
To link to websites outside the wiki, use the following syntax:
This will render as: Example Website
The URL goes first, followed by the link text. It is *highly recommended* to always include link text, providing context to the user about where the link leads. Avoid using bare URLs in your text.
Best Practices for Linking
Effective linking is about more than just knowing the syntax. It’s about creating a user-friendly and informative wiki experience. Here are some best practices:
- Be Relevant: Only link to pages that are genuinely related to the current topic. Avoid excessive or irrelevant linking.
- Use Descriptive Link Text: Choose link text that clearly indicates the destination of the link.
- Avoid Red Links (When Possible): While red links are useful for identifying missing articles, try to create those articles or rework your links to avoid them. A proliferation of red links can make a wiki look unfinished.
- Don't Overlink: Too many links can be distracting. Use links strategically to highlight important connections.
- Consider Context: Think about the reader's understanding. Provide enough context so that the link makes sense.
- Maintain Consistency: Use consistent linking practices throughout the wiki. If you link to a page using one phrase, try to use the same phrase consistently.
- Check Your Links: Periodically review your links to ensure they are still valid and pointing to the correct destinations. Broken links frustrate users. Tools are available to help identify broken links.
- Use Section Linking Wisely: Section linking is excellent for long articles, but avoid overuse.
Linking in the Context of Financial Analysis and Trading
When building a wiki related to financial analysis and trading, strategic linking is vital for creating a comprehensive learning resource. Here are some examples of how linking can be used effectively in this context:
- **Technical Indicators:** Link between indicators and strategies that utilize them. For example, linking from the "Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)" article to articles on "MACD Trading Strategies" and "Trend Following Strategies".
- **Trading Strategies:** Link strategies to the underlying concepts they rely on. For instance, linking from "Day Trading" to articles on "Candlestick Patterns", "Technical Analysis", and "Risk Management".
- **Market Trends:** Link descriptions of market trends (e.g., "Bull Market", "Bear Market", "Sideways Trend") to articles on "Trend Identification Techniques", "Economic Indicators", and "Market Sentiment Analysis".
- **Economic Indicators:** Link economic indicators (e.g., "GDP", "Inflation", "Unemployment Rate") to their impact on financial markets and specific assets.
- **Risk Management:** Link risk management techniques (e.g., "Stop-Loss Orders", "Position Sizing", "Diversification") to articles on "Trading Psychology" and "Capital Preservation".
- **Specific Assets:** Link articles on specific assets (e.g., "Gold", "Bitcoin", "Apple Stock") to articles on their historical performance, fundamental analysis, and related trading strategies.
Here are 25 links related to strategies, technical analysis, indicators, and trends (for illustrative purposes; these would be internal links within the wiki):
1. Candlestick Patterns 2. Support and Resistance 3. Fibonacci Retracement 4. Bollinger Bands 5. Relative Strength Index (RSI) 6. Stochastic Oscillator 7. Moving Average 8. Exponential Moving Average (EMA) 9. Trend Following Strategies 10. Day Trading 11. Swing Trading 12. Scalping 13. Position Trading 14. Breakout Trading 15. Reversal Trading 16. Head and Shoulders Pattern 17. Double Top/Bottom 18. Elliott Wave Theory 19. Dow Theory 20. Fundamental Analysis 21. Technical Analysis 22. Risk Management 23. Portfolio Diversification 24. Market Sentiment Analysis 25. Economic Calendar
These links demonstrate how to create a network of interconnected information, providing a cohesive and valuable resource for traders and investors. Remember to consider the user experience and create links that are relevant, descriptive, and helpful. Furthermore, consider linking to concepts like Correlation, Volatility, and Liquidity to provide a well-rounded learning experience.
Tools for Managing Links
MediaWiki provides several tools to help you manage links:
- **What Links Here:** This special page (accessible from the sidebar) shows you all the pages that link to a particular page. This is useful for understanding the impact of changes to a page.
- **Broken Link Checker:** Various extensions and tools are available to automatically check for broken links within your wiki.
- **Category Pages:** Categories (see below) can also serve as a form of linking, grouping related pages together.
Categorization
Categorization is a powerful way to organize your wiki content. Categories are like folders that group related articles together. To add a page to a category, add the following to the end of the page:
``
For example:
This will add the current page to the "Help Pages" category. You can create nested categories (e.g.,).
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