Help:Search

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  1. Help:Search

This page provides a comprehensive guide to using the search functionality within MediaWiki. Whether you're a newcomer to wikis or simply want to refine your search skills, this article will cover everything from basic searches to advanced techniques, helping you quickly find the information you need.

Basic Search

The most straightforward way to find information is using the search box, typically located at the top right corner of every page in a MediaWiki installation. Simply type your search term(s) into the box and press Enter or click the "Search" button. MediaWiki will then display a list of pages that contain those terms.

The default search is a "contains" search. This means it looks for pages where the search term appears *anywhere* within the page content, including the text, wikitext markup, and even page titles. This can sometimes lead to a large number of results. For more precise results, consider using the advanced search features described below.

The results page displays a list of matching pages, along with a brief snippet of text surrounding your search term. This snippet helps you quickly assess whether the page is relevant to your needs. Pages are usually ranked by relevance, meaning the most likely matches appear at the top of the list.

Understanding Search Results

Each search result typically includes:

  • Page Title: A link to the matching page.
  • Snippet: A short excerpt from the page containing your search term, often bolded for easy identification.
  • Context: Sometimes, additional context is provided, such as the section heading where the search term appears.

Pay close attention to the snippets to determine if a page is truly relevant. A page containing your search term multiple times is generally more relevant than a page containing it only once. Also, consider the context – is the search term used in the way you intended?

Advanced Search Features

MediaWiki's search functionality offers several advanced features to refine your searches and get more accurate results. These features are often accessible through a link labeled "Advanced search" near the standard search box, or by using special search operators.

1. Exact Phrase Search:

To search for an *exact* phrase, enclose it in double quotes ("). For example, searching for `"MediaWiki search"` will only return pages that contain that exact phrase, in that specific order. This is useful when looking for specific quotes, titles, or terms that need to be matched precisely. This is particularly useful when comparing Technical Analysis strategies.

2. Boolean Operators:

Boolean operators allow you to combine multiple search terms using logical conditions.

  • AND: (Default) Returns pages that contain *all* of the specified terms. For example, `MediaWiki AND search` will return pages that contain both "MediaWiki" and "search". You can also simply space out the terms: `MediaWiki search`.
  • OR: Returns pages that contain *at least one* of the specified terms. For example, `MediaWiki OR wiki` will return pages that contain either "MediaWiki" or "wiki" (or both). Using OR is helpful when exploring synonyms or related concepts.
  • NOT: Excludes pages that contain a specific term. For example, `MediaWiki NOT help` will return pages that contain "MediaWiki" but *not* "help". Be careful with NOT, as it can sometimes exclude relevant results if the excluded term is used in a different context.

3. Wildcard Characters:

Wildcard characters allow you to search for variations of a term.

  • Asterisk (*): Represents zero or more characters. For example, `search*` will match "search", "searching", "searches", and so on. This is useful for finding all forms of a word. Consider using this when studying Trend Following systems.
  • Question Mark (?): Represents a single character. For example, `te?t` will match "test" and "text".

4. Namespace Search:

MediaWiki organizes content into namespaces, such as "Help," "Project," "User," and the main article namespace (usually empty). You can restrict your search to a specific namespace by using the `namespace:` prefix. For example, `namespace:Help search` will only search within the Help namespace. This is extremely useful for finding documentation, like this page itself.

5. Title Search:

By default, the search includes page titles. However, you can specifically search only page titles using the `intitle:` prefix. For example, `intitle:Search` will only return pages with "Search" in their title. This is a quick way to find pages dedicated to a particular topic.

6. Prefix Search:

The `prefix:` prefix allows you to search for pages that start with a specific string. For example, `prefix:Help:` will return all pages within the Help namespace.

7. Category Search:

You can search for pages within a specific category using the `category:` prefix. For example, `category:Help` will return all pages categorized as "Help". This is a powerful way to find related articles.

8. File Search:

To search for files (images, documents, etc.), use the `file:` prefix. For example, `file:logo.png` will search for a file named "logo.png".

9. Template Search:

To search for templates, use the `template:` prefix. For example, `template:Infobox` will search for templates named "Infobox".

10. User Search:

To search for users, use the `user:` prefix. For example, `user:Example` will search for a user named "Example".

Combining Advanced Search Features

You can combine multiple advanced search features to create highly specific searches. For example:

`"MediaWiki search" namespace:Help intitle:Search`

This search will look for the exact phrase "MediaWiki search" within the Help namespace, and only return pages with "Search" in their title.

Search Tips and Tricks

  • Use specific keywords: The more specific your keywords, the more accurate your results will be. Instead of searching for "wiki," try "MediaWiki installation."
  • Break down complex topics: If you're struggling to find information on a complex topic, break it down into smaller, more manageable search terms.
  • Try synonyms: If your initial search doesn't yield results, try using synonyms for your keywords.
  • Check your spelling: Misspellings can prevent you from finding relevant pages.
  • Use the history feature: If you've previously performed a search, you can access your search history (if enabled) to quickly repeat it.
  • Explore related pages: Once you've found a relevant page, explore the links on that page to discover related information.
  • Consider the context: Think about the context of your search and use keywords that reflect that context. When studying Fibonacci Retracements, be sure to include that term in your search.
  • Utilize the "What links here" feature: If you find a relevant page, use the "What links here" tool (usually found in the sidebar) to discover other pages that reference it. This can lead you to even more related information.
  • Understand the limitations: MediaWiki's search is not perfect. It may not always find every relevant page, especially if the content is poorly organized or the keywords are ambiguous.

Troubleshooting Search Issues

  • No results: If your search returns no results, try broadening your search terms, using synonyms, or checking your spelling. Also, ensure that the content you're looking for actually exists within the wiki.
  • Too many results: If your search returns too many results, try narrowing your search terms, using exact phrase searches, or utilizing boolean operators.
  • Irrelevant results: If your search returns mostly irrelevant results, try using more specific keywords, utilizing boolean operators (especially NOT), or restricting your search to a specific namespace.
  • Search is slow: If the search is slow, it may be due to a large wiki or high server load. Try simplifying your search terms or waiting a few minutes and trying again.

Advanced Concepts for Power Users

For users familiar with indexing and search engine concepts, MediaWiki offers further customization options. These typically require administrative access.

  • Search Indexing: MediaWiki uses an index to speed up searches. The index needs to be updated periodically to reflect changes to the wiki content. Administrators can configure the indexing process.
  • Search Weights: Administrators can adjust the weights assigned to different fields (e.g., page title, page content) to influence the ranking of search results.
  • Custom Search Functions: Advanced users can create custom search functions to extend the functionality of the search engine.
  • External Search Integration: MediaWiki can be integrated with external search engines, such as Google, to provide more comprehensive search capabilities.

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