Manual:Linking

1. Manual:Linking

Linking is a fundamental skill in using MediaWiki, allowing you to connect related articles and create a navigable web of knowledge. This guide will comprehensively cover how to create links within a wiki, focusing on both internal links (linking to other wiki pages) and external links (linking to websites outside the wiki). This article is geared towards beginners and will cover various linking techniques, best practices, and troubleshooting tips.

Internal Linking

Internal linking is the practice of linking from one page within a wiki to another page within the same wiki. This is crucial for:

• Navigation: Helping readers easily move between related topics.
• Context: Providing additional information and supporting claims.
• Wiki Structure: Building a cohesive and interconnected knowledge base.
• SEO (Wiki Internal): Improving the discoverability of pages within the wiki itself.

There are several ways to create internal links in MediaWiki:

Basic Internal Links

The simplest method is to use double square brackets `[[ ]]` around the target page's title.

Example:

`Help:Contents` renders as Help:Contents.

If the page “Help:Contents” exists, this will create a clickable link. If the page *doesn't* exist, the link will appear in red, indicating a broken link – a page that needs to be created. This is a useful feature for identifying gaps in the wiki’s content.

Linking with Link Text

Often you'll want to use descriptive text for the link instead of the page title. You can do this by separating the link text and the page title with a pipe symbol `|`.

Example:

`Wiki Help` renders as Wiki Help.

This creates a link that displays "Wiki Help" but points to the "Help:Contents" page. This is best practice for readability and providing context to the user.

Linking to Sections within a Page

You can link directly to a specific section within a page using the hash symbol `#`.

Example:

`Jump to the Linking Section` renders as Jump to the Linking Section.

This creates a link that jumps to the section titled "Linking" within the current page. To link to a section in *another* page, combine the page title and the section identifier:

`Jump to the Editing Section in Wiki Help` renders as Jump to the Editing Section in Wiki Help.

Note that section identifiers are case-sensitive and should exactly match the section heading. Spaces in section titles are replaced with underscores when used in a link. For instance, a section titled "Technical Analysis Basics" would have an identifier of "#Technical_Analysis_Basics".

Using "What Links Here"

MediaWiki provides a special page called “What Links Here” that allows you to see which pages link to a specific page. This is incredibly useful for:

• Maintaining Links: Identifying outdated or broken links.
• Understanding Context: Seeing how a page is used within the wiki.
• Reorganization: Assessing the impact of page moves or deletions.

To access "What Links Here," go to the page you're interested in and click the "What links here" link in the sidebar (usually under 'Tools').

Avoiding Link Ambiguity

When page titles are similar, or when using link text that could refer to multiple pages, it's important to be clear about your intended target. Consider using more specific link text or, if necessary, fully qualifying the page title with its namespace. For example, instead of `Help Page`, use `Help Page` if you specifically mean the main help page.

Link Strategies and Considerations

• Relevance: Only link to pages that are directly relevant to the current topic. Avoid excessive linking, which can be distracting.
• Context: Provide context for the link. Don't just drop a link in the middle of a sentence without explaining why it's relevant.
• Anchor Text: Use descriptive and informative anchor text (the text that the link is displayed as).
• Red Links: While red links can indicate pages that need to be created, too many red links can make a page look unfinished. Consider removing or revising red links if the linked page is unlikely to be created soon.
• Link Depth: Avoid excessively long chains of links. Try to link to pages that are relatively close to the current topic.
• Interlinking related concepts: Link to Candlestick Patterns, Moving Averages, Fibonacci Retracement, Bollinger Bands, MACD, RSI, Stochastic Oscillator, Support and Resistance Levels, Trend Lines, Chart Patterns, Day Trading, Swing Trading, Position Trading, Forex Trading, Stock Trading, Cryptocurrency Trading, Risk Management, Portfolio Diversification, Fundamental Analysis, Technical Analysis, Market Sentiment, Economic Indicators, Trading Psychology, Backtesting, Algorithmic Trading, Margin Trading, Short Selling, Options Trading, Futures Trading. This builds a strong web of interconnected knowledge.

External Linking

External linking is the practice of linking from a wiki page to a website outside the wiki. This is used for:

• Citations: Providing sources for information.
• Further Reading: Directing readers to more detailed resources.
• Official Documentation: Linking to the official documentation for software or tools.

Basic External Links

To create an external link, enclose the URL in single square brackets `[ ]`.

Example:

`Example Website` renders as [Example Website].

The first part within the square brackets is the URL, and the second part is the link text.

Using Link Text

As with internal links, it's best practice to use descriptive link text instead of the raw URL. This improves readability and provides context.

Example:

`Investopedia - Financial Dictionary` renders as [Investopedia - Financial Dictionary].

Linking to Specific Resources

You can link directly to a specific page or resource on an external website by including the full URL.

Example:

`Investopedia - Fundamental Analysis` renders as [Investopedia - Fundamental Analysis].

External Link Strategies and Considerations

• Reliability: Only link to reliable and trustworthy sources.
• Relevance: Ensure that the external link is directly relevant to the current topic.
• Accuracy: Verify that the external link is accurate and up-to-date.
• Broken Links: Periodically check for broken external links and update them as needed. Tools can assist with this.
• Attribution: Properly attribute the source of information when linking to external websites.
• Avoid Excessive Linking: Don't overload a page with external links.
• Consider "nofollow" links: In some cases, you might want to use the `nofollow` attribute to prevent search engines from following the link. This is typically used for links to untrusted sources or affiliate links. (This requires specific wiki configuration.)
• Linking to resources on Trend Following, Elliott Wave Theory, Harmonic Patterns, Ichimoku Cloud, Volume Spread Analysis, Wyckoff Method, Gap Analysis, Pennant Formation, Flag Pattern, Head and Shoulders Pattern, Double Top, Double Bottom, Triangles, Cup and Handle, Doji Candlestick, Hammer Candlestick, Engulfing Pattern, Morning Star, Evening Star, Three White Soldiers, Three Black Crows. These are all valuable resources for traders.

Troubleshooting Linking Issues

• Red Links: A red link indicates that the target page does not exist. Either create the page or revise the link.
• Broken Links: A broken link indicates that the target page is no longer available. Update the link if possible, or remove it.
• Incorrect Syntax: Double-check the syntax of your links. Make sure you're using the correct brackets and pipe symbols.
• Namespace Issues: Ensure that you're using the correct namespace for internal links.
• Case Sensitivity: Section identifiers are case-sensitive.
• Special Characters: Special characters in page titles or URLs may need to be encoded.

Advanced Linking Techniques

• Redirects: You can create redirect pages to point one page title to another. This is useful for handling common misspellings or alternative names.
• Templates: Templates can be used to create reusable link structures.
• Category Links: Adding category links (like the one at the bottom of this page) helps organize pages within the wiki.
• Infoboxes: Infoboxes often contain links to related pages.

Best Practices for Linking

• Be Consistent: Use a consistent linking style throughout the wiki.
• Be Accurate: Ensure that your links are accurate and up-to-date.
• Be Thoughtful: Consider the user experience when creating links.
• Review Regularly: Periodically review your links to ensure they are still valid and relevant.
• Utilize Wiki Tools: Take advantage of MediaWiki's built-in tools for managing links.

By following these guidelines, you can create a well-linked and navigable wiki that provides a valuable resource for your users. Remember to practice and experiment with different linking techniques to find what works best for your specific wiki. Mastering linking is a key step towards becoming a proficient MediaWiki editor.

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