Interwiki links
- Interwiki Links: Connecting Your Wiki to the World
Interwiki links are a powerful feature of MediaWiki, allowing you to seamlessly link to pages on *other* wikis from within your wiki. They provide a way to create a network of knowledge, connecting related information across different platforms. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and using interwiki links, geared towards beginners. We will cover the basics, configuration, best practices, troubleshooting, and advanced usage.
What are Interwiki Links?
In essence, an interwiki link is a shortcut. Instead of typing out a full URL to a page on another wiki, you define a short "prefix" within your MediaWiki installation. Then, whenever you use that prefix followed by a page title, MediaWiki automatically converts it into a valid link to the corresponding page on the external wiki.
For example, imagine you want to link to the Wikipedia article on "Albert Einstein." Without interwiki links, you'd have to type: `Albert Einstein`. With interwiki links, you might define a prefix like `wkp:` and then simply write `wkp:Albert Einstein Albert Einstein`. MediaWiki would then automatically translate that into the full URL.
This simplifies the editing process, makes your wiki more readable, and fosters collaboration by easily connecting to relevant information hosted elsewhere. Think of it like creating a custom abbreviation for frequently visited websites. Understanding Variables is a foundational element for grasping how these links function.
Why Use Interwiki Links?
There are several compelling reasons to utilize interwiki links:
- **Simplified Linking:** As mentioned above, they drastically reduce the verbosity of links to external wikis.
- **Improved Readability:** Cleaner syntax makes wiki pages easier to read and maintain.
- **Centralized Management:** The interwiki map is centrally managed by the wiki administrator, ensuring consistency and control. This is particularly important when dealing with a large wiki or multiple administrators – see Administrators for more details.
- **Cross-Wiki Collaboration:** Facilitate the exchange of information between different wikis, promoting a more interconnected knowledge base.
- **Enhanced Navigation:** Provide users with easy access to related content on other platforms.
- **Consistent Formatting:** Ensure all links to a specific wiki follow a consistent pattern.
- **Reduced Maintenance:** If the URL structure of the target wiki changes, you only need to update the interwiki map in your MediaWiki installation, rather than manually updating every link.
Configuring Interwiki Links
Interwiki links are configured through a special page called `MediaWiki:Interwiki`. This page is accessible to administrators and users with the appropriate permissions. You'll need to understand Permissions to access and modify this page.
The `MediaWiki:Interwiki` page contains a table with two columns: *Prefix* and *URL*. Each row defines a new interwiki link.
- **Prefix:** This is the short abbreviation you will use in your wiki's markup (e.g., `wkp:`, `dict:`, `commons:`). Prefixes are case-insensitive.
- **URL:** This is the base URL of the external wiki. It *must* include a `$1` placeholder, which is replaced by the page title you specify in your wiki markup.
Here's an example:
``` wkp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/$1 ```
This configuration would allow you to link to Wikipedia articles using the `wkp:` prefix, like this: `wkp:Albert Einstein Albert Einstein`.
To add a new interwiki link:
1. Navigate to `MediaWiki:Interwiki`. 2. Click "Edit" (if you have the necessary permissions). 3. Add a new row to the table with the desired prefix and URL. Ensure the URL includes `$1`. 4. Save the page.
After saving, the new interwiki link will be immediately available for use throughout your wiki. Be mindful of Security considerations when adding external links.
Using Interwiki Links in Wiki Markup
Once configured, using interwiki links is straightforward. The syntax is:
- `prefix` is the interwiki prefix you defined in `MediaWiki:Interwiki`.
- `page title` is the title of the page on the external wiki you want to link to.
- `Link Text` is the text that will be displayed as the link in your wiki.
For example:
`wkp:Quantum mechanics Quantum Mechanics`
This will create a link that displays "Quantum Mechanics" but points to the "Quantum mechanics" page on English Wikipedia.
If you want the page title to be the same as the link text, you can omit the `Link Text` part:
This will display "Quantum mechanics" as the link text.
Best Practices for Interwiki Links
- **Choose Meaningful Prefixes:** Select prefixes that are short, memorable, and clearly indicate the target wiki. For example, `wkp:` for Wikipedia, `dict:` for a dictionary site, `commons:` for Wikimedia Commons.
- **Document Your Interwiki Map:** Keep a clear record of all the interwiki links you’ve defined, including their purpose and the target wiki. This is crucial for long-term maintenance. Consider creating a Help page specifically for interwiki links.
- **Avoid Conflicts:** Ensure that your chosen prefixes do not conflict with existing wiki features or other interwiki links.
- **Use Consistent Formatting:** Maintain a consistent style for your interwiki links throughout your wiki.
- **Regularly Review and Update:** Periodically review your interwiki map to ensure that the links are still valid and that the target wikis are still active. External websites and APIs change, causing links to break.
- **Consider Local Alternatives:** Before creating an interwiki link, consider whether the information could be directly incorporated into your wiki. This can improve the overall cohesiveness of your knowledge base.
- **Be Mindful of Licensing:** Respect the licensing terms of the external wikis you link to.
- **Understand URL Encoding:** Sometimes, page titles contain characters that need to be URL encoded. MediaWiki generally handles this automatically, but be aware of potential issues if you encounter errors.
Troubleshooting Interwiki Links
- **Link Not Working:**
* **Check the Prefix:** Ensure you are using the correct prefix as defined in `MediaWiki:Interwiki`. * **Check the Page Title:** Verify that the page title is correct on the external wiki. * **Check the URL:** Confirm that the URL in `MediaWiki:Interwiki` is correct and includes the `$1` placeholder. * **Cache Issues:** Clear your browser cache and the MediaWiki cache (if you have access) to ensure you are seeing the latest version of the wiki. See Caching for more information.
- **Incorrect URL Generated:**
* **URL Syntax:** Double-check the URL in `MediaWiki:Interwiki` for any syntax errors. * **Character Encoding:** Ensure the URL is properly encoded to handle special characters.
- **Permissions Issues:**
* **Access to Interwiki Page:** Verify that you have the necessary permissions to edit `MediaWiki:Interwiki`.
- **Conflicting Prefixes:**
* **Check for Duplicates:** Ensure that the prefix you are trying to use is not already defined for another wiki.
Advanced Usage
- **Local Interwiki Links:** You can also define interwiki links to pages *within* your own wiki. This can be useful for creating shortcuts to frequently accessed pages. For example:
``` help: /wiki/Help:Contents ```
This would allow you to link to the Help:Contents page using `help:Contents`.
- **URL Customization:** You can use more complex URL patterns in `MediaWiki:Interwiki` to handle different types of links. For example, you can use regular expressions to transform the page title before constructing the URL. However, this requires a more advanced understanding of MediaWiki's syntax and regular expressions.
- **Interwiki Aliases:** Some wikis support interwiki aliases, which allow you to define multiple prefixes for the same target wiki. This can be useful for providing different ways to access the same information.
- **Special Considerations for API Access:** When using interwiki links in conjunction with the MediaWiki API, you may need to adjust your API requests to correctly handle the interwiki prefixes.
Interwiki Links and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
While interwiki links primarily benefit wiki users, they can also have a minor positive impact on SEO. Linking to authoritative external sources can signal to search engines that your wiki is a credible and valuable resource. However, it's important to use interwiki links judiciously and avoid excessive linking. Focus on linking to resources that directly enhance the content on your wiki. Understanding SEO Best Practices is important.
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- **MediaWiki Help Pages**
- **Extension Installation**
- **Templates**
- **User Management**
By mastering interwiki links, you can significantly enhance the usability and interconnectedness of your MediaWiki installation, creating a more valuable and engaging experience for your users. Remember to consult the official MediaWiki Documentation for the most up-to-date information.
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