This article provides a comprehensive introduction to using MediaWiki, the software powering countless wikis including Wikipedia. It's designed for users with little to no prior experience, guiding you through the fundamental concepts and tools needed to contribute and navigate a MediaWiki-based site. We will cover editing, formatting, creating pages, and useful features for effective collaboration. Understanding these concepts will empower you to become a valuable contributor to any wiki community.
MediaWiki is a free and open-source wiki software package written in PHP and supported by the MariaDB or MySQL database systems. It was originally developed for and used by Wikipedia, but now powers a vast network of wikis covering diverse topics. Its core strength lies in its collaborative nature, allowing multiple users to create, edit, and organize content in a structured and accessible way. Think of it as a constantly evolving, collectively authored encyclopedia.
Understanding the Basics
Before diving into editing, let's familiarize ourselves with key terms:
Page: A single document within the wiki, such as this one. Each page has a unique title.
Article: Generally refers to a main content page, focusing on a specific topic.
Talk Page: Every article has an associated talk page (accessed via the "Discussion" tab). This is where editors discuss changes, suggest improvements, and resolve disputes regarding the article's content. *Always* discuss significant changes on the talk page first!
Namespace: A categorization system that organizes pages. Common namespaces include:
* Main Namespace: Where the main articles reside (like this one).
* User Namespace: Pages related to individual users (e.g., User:YourUsername).
* Talk Namespace: The talk pages associated with articles and user pages.
* Project Namespace: Pages dedicated to the wiki’s policies and guidelines.
* Help Namespace: Pages designed to help users understand how to use the wiki.
WikiText: The markup language used to format text in MediaWiki. We'll cover this extensively.
Revision: Each saved version of a page, allowing you to track changes and revert to previous states.
Watchlist: A list of pages you've designated for monitoring. You'll receive notifications when changes are made to those pages.
Editing Pages: Your First Steps
To edit a page, simply click the "Edit" tab at the top of the page. This opens the editing window, where you can modify the WikiText.
The Editing Window: You'll see a text box containing the page's current WikiText. Don't be intimidated! You can directly edit this code.
The Edit Summary: *Always* provide a brief summary of your changes in the "Edit summary" field below the editing window. This helps other editors understand your contributions. For example, "Fixed minor typo" or "Added information about [relevant topic]".
Previewing Your Changes: Before saving, click the "Show preview" button to see how your changes will look. This is crucial to avoid accidental errors.
Saving Your Changes: Once you're satisfied, click the "Publish page" (or "Save page") button.
WikiText: Formatting Your Content
WikiText is the core of MediaWiki editing. Here's a breakdown of common formatting elements:
Headings: Use equal signs (=) to create headings. The number of equal signs determines the heading level (e.g., `== Heading 2 ==`, `=== Heading 3 ===`).
Bold Text: Enclose text in triple apostrophes (`bold text`).
Italic Text: Enclose text in double apostrophes (`italic text`).
Lists:
* Unordered Lists: Use asterisks (*) at the beginning of each line. `* Item 1`
* Ordered Lists: Use numbers (#) at the beginning of each line. `# Item 1`
Links:
* Internal Links: Link to other pages within the wiki using double square brackets (`Page Title`). For example, Main Page.
* External Links: Link to external websites using square brackets and a URL: `Example Website`.
Images: Insert images using `File:ImageName.jpgCaption`. The `thumb` parameter creates a thumbnail, and `Caption` provides a descriptive text. Ensure the image is uploaded to the wiki first.
Tables: Tables are created using WikiText markup. A basic table structure looks like this:
```wiki
Caption
Header 1
Header 2
Cell 1
Cell 2
```
Blockquotes: Use colons (:) to create blockquotes. Each colon indents the quote further. `: This is a blockquote.`
Horizontal Rules: Use three hyphens (---) on a new line.
Superscript and Subscript: Use `superscript` and `subscript` respectively.
Code: Use `code` for inline code, or `Template:Code` for a multi-line code block.
Creating New Pages
To create a new page, type the desired page title into the search box and press Enter. If the page doesn't exist, you'll be prompted to create it. Alternatively, you can use a red link (a link that doesn't currently point to a page) and click on it to start editing the new page.
Naming Conventions: Follow the wiki's established naming conventions for page titles. Consistency is key.
First Sentence: Start the page with a clear and concise introductory sentence that defines the topic.
Advanced Editing Techniques
Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore these advanced techniques:
Templates: Reusable snippets of WikiText that simplify repetitive tasks. Templates can be used to standardize formatting and content across multiple pages.
Categories: Categorize pages to make them easier to find and organize. Add categories to the bottom of a page using ``.
Infoboxes: Structured summaries of information presented in a standardized format, often used for articles about people, places, or organizations.
Redirects: Create redirects from alternative page titles to the main article.
Revisions and History: Every edit is saved as a revision. You can view the page history to see previous versions and revert to an earlier state if needed.
Diffs: View the differences between two revisions of a page.
Useful Tools and Features
Watchlist: Add pages to your watchlist to receive notifications of changes.
My Preferences: Customize your wiki experience, including your appearance, editing settings, and email preferences. Access this through your user page.
Special Pages: A collection of utility pages, including lists of new pages, most linked pages, and orphaned pages.
Search: A powerful search function to find information within the wiki.
Help Pages: Explore the wiki's help pages for detailed information on specific topics.
Contributing Effectively
Be Respectful: Maintain a civil tone in discussions and treat other editors with respect.
Assume Good Faith: Assume that other editors are acting in good faith, even if you disagree with their edits.
Discuss Changes: Discuss significant changes on the talk page before implementing them.
Cite Your Sources: Provide reliable sources to support your claims.
Follow Wiki Policies: Adhere to the wiki's established policies and guidelines.
Edit Responsibly: Avoid making disruptive or vandalism edits.
Resources for Further Learning
Help:Contents - The central help index for this wiki.
Wikipedia - Editing help from Wikipedia, useful even outside of that site.
[1] - Category of help pages on the MediaWiki website.
Understanding Market Trends and Strategies (Related Links)
While this guide focuses on MediaWiki, understanding broader concepts like market trends can be useful for collaborative projects. Here are some related resources:
