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  1. Page Names in MediaWiki: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

This article provides a detailed guide to understanding and effectively utilizing Page Names in MediaWiki, version 1.40 and beyond. Whether you're a new wiki editor or simply looking to solidify your understanding, this guide will cover everything from the fundamental concepts to advanced techniques. We will delve into the structure of page names, how they relate to titles, namespaces, and URLs, and how to create, rename, and manage them effectively. We will also cover common pitfalls and best practices.

What is a Page Name?

In the context of MediaWiki, a *Page Name* is the unique identifier used to locate and access a specific page within the wiki. It’s not simply the title you see displayed at the top of the page, but a more technical designation used internally by the system. Think of it as the page's address. It dictates where the content is stored on the server and how it’s referenced in links, redirects, and other wiki operations. Understanding the distinction between a page name and a page title is crucial.

The *Page Title* is what users see and interact with. It's the human-readable name of the page. The *Page Name* is the underlying identifier that the wiki uses. While often they are the same, they *can* be different, especially when dealing with namespaces or redirects.

Components of a Page Name

A page name is typically composed of three main parts:

1. **Namespace:** This categorizes the page. Common namespaces include "Main" (for regular articles), "User", "Talk", "File", "MediaWiki", and special namespaces like "Help" and "Category". If no namespace is explicitly specified, the page defaults to the "Main" namespace. 2. **Page Title (or Base Name):** This is the core name of the page, representing the subject matter. It can contain letters, numbers, and certain special characters. See the section on "Valid Characters" below for details. 3. **Page Suffix (Optional):** This is an extension to the base name, often used to indicate specific actions or versions of the page. Examples include "/edit" for the editing page, "/history" for the revision history, and "/sandbox" for a test page.

The general format is: `Namespace:Page Title/Suffix`

For example:

  • `Main:Trading Strategies` – A page in the Main namespace titled "Trading Strategies".
  • `User:ExampleUser/Sandbox` – A page in the User namespace belonging to "ExampleUser", used as a sandbox.
  • `File:ExampleImage.png` – A file page in the File namespace for an image named "ExampleImage.png".
  • `Help:Contents` – A page in the Help namespace titled "Contents".

Namespaces in Detail

Namespaces are a fundamental organizing principle in MediaWiki. They prevent naming conflicts and allow you to group related pages together. Here’s a more detailed look at some common namespaces:

  • **Main:** The primary namespace for the encyclopedia's articles. Most content resides here.
  • **User:** Dedicated to individual user pages, where users can create their profiles, personal notes, and test areas. Each user has a dedicated User page.
  • **User talk:** Used for communication with users. When you want to leave a message for a user, you post it on their "Talk" page.
  • **Project:** Used for project-related discussions and policies. Often specific to the wiki itself.
  • **Project talk:** For discussions about the "Project" namespace pages.
  • **File:** Holds descriptions of uploaded files (images, videos, etc.).
  • **File talk:** Discussion pages for files.
  • **MediaWiki:** Contains pages about the MediaWiki software itself.
  • **MediaWiki talk:** Discussion pages for the MediaWiki software.
  • **Template:** Stores reusable templates for formatting and content. Templates are a powerful feature of MediaWiki.
  • **Template talk:** Discussion pages for templates.
  • **Help:** Contains help pages and documentation for users.
  • **Help talk:** Discussion pages for help pages.
  • **Category:** Used for categorizing pages. Categories are essential for organizing content.

You can prefix a page name with a namespace using a colon (`:`). For example, `User:JohnDoe` refers to the user page for JohnDoe. Without a prefix, the page is assumed to be in the Main namespace.

Valid Characters in Page Names

Page names aren't entirely freeform. MediaWiki imposes restrictions on the characters allowed to ensure proper functionality and prevent confusion.

  • **Allowed:** Letters (a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9), hyphen (`-`), underscore (`_`), and some special characters like period (`.`) and forward slash (`/`).
  • **Disallowed:** Spaces, ampersands (`&`), percent signs (`%`), angle brackets (`<`, `>`), double quotes (`"`), single quotes (`'`), backslashes (`\`), question marks (`?`), asterisks (`*`), pipes (`|`), colons (`:`), and other characters that have special meaning to the wiki software.

If you attempt to create a page name with invalid characters, MediaWiki will typically sanitize it by replacing the invalid characters with a valid substitute, usually an underscore or removing them altogether. This can lead to unexpected page names, so it's best to avoid invalid characters from the start.

Creating a New Page

To create a new page, you simply use a link to a page name that doesn't yet exist. When you click on the red link, you'll be prompted to create the page. You can do this using the following MediaWiki syntax:

```wiki Page Name ```

For example:

```wiki Technical Analysis ```

If a page named "Technical Analysis" doesn't exist, this link will appear in red. Clicking it will take you to the page creation interface.

You can also create a page directly by typing the page name into the search box and then clicking the "Create the page" link that appears.

Remember to consider the appropriate namespace when creating a new page. If you want to create a user page for "JaneSmith", you would use `User:JaneSmith`.

Renaming a Page

Renaming a page is a common task, especially as content evolves. MediaWiki provides a "Move" feature for this purpose.

1. Go to the page you want to rename. 2. Click on the "More" dropdown menu (usually located at the top of the page). 3. Select "Move". 4. Enter the new page name in the "New title" field. 5. Provide a reason for the move in the "Reason" field. 6. Click the "Move page" button.

The "Move" feature automatically updates all incoming links to point to the new page name. It also preserves the page history, ensuring that all revisions are retained.

Redirects

Redirects are pages that automatically forward users to another page. They're useful for handling variations in page names or for consolidating content.

To create a redirect, create a page with the following content:

```wiki

  1. REDIRECT Target Page Name

```

For example, if you want to redirect "Beginner Trading" to "Trading for Beginners", create a page named "Beginner Trading" with the following content:

```wiki

  1. REDIRECT Trading for Beginners

```

Whenever a user tries to access "Beginner Trading", they will be automatically redirected to "Trading for Beginners".

Page Names and URLs

Page names are directly reflected in the URLs of wiki pages. The URL structure typically follows this pattern:

`https://yourwiki.com/wiki/Page_Name`

For example:

`https://yourwiki.com/wiki/Trading_Strategies`

The underscores in the URL represent spaces in the page title. MediaWiki automatically converts spaces to underscores in URLs.

Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

  • **Avoid Ambiguous Names:** Choose page names that clearly and accurately reflect the content. Avoid overly general or vague names.
  • **Consistency is Key:** Maintain a consistent naming convention throughout the wiki. This makes it easier for users to find information.
  • **Check for Existing Pages:** Before creating a new page, search the wiki to ensure that a similar page doesn't already exist.
  • **Use Redirects Wisely:** Redirects are helpful, but don't overuse them. Too many redirects can make it difficult to track where content is located.
  • **Consider SEO:** When choosing page names, consider search engine optimization (SEO). Use keywords that people are likely to search for.
  • **Be Mindful of Case Sensitivity:** While MediaWiki is generally case-insensitive for page names, it's best to use consistent capitalization for readability.
  • **Avoid Special Characters:** Stick to the allowed characters to prevent unexpected behavior.
  • **Understand Namespace Usage:** Use namespaces strategically to organize content effectively.
  • **Use Descriptive Titles:** While the page name is the identifier, the page title should be descriptive and user-friendly.
  • **Review Page History:** When renaming or moving pages, review the page history to ensure that no important information is lost. See Page History for more details.

Advanced Techniques

  • **Transclusion:** You can include content from one page into another using transclusion. This allows you to reuse content and maintain consistency.
  • **Subpages:** You can create subpages within a page by using a forward slash (`/`) in the page name. For example, `Trading Strategies/Scalping`.
  • **Magic Words:** MediaWiki provides "magic words" that can be used to dynamically insert information into pages, such as the current date or the page title. See Magic Words for more information.
  • **Using Variables in Templates:** Templates can use variables to create dynamic content. This allows you to customize templates based on the context in which they are used.
  • **Customizing URL Structure:** While the default URL structure is sufficient for most wikis, it's possible to customize it using extensions.

Related Concepts and Further Learning

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