Red link

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  1. Red Link

A "red link" is a fundamental concept in MediaWiki, the software powering Wikipedia and countless other wikis. For new users, encountering a red link can be confusing, but understanding what they represent is crucial for navigating and contributing to a wiki effectively. This article provides a comprehensive explanation of red links, covering their meaning, causes, how to resolve them, and their significance for wiki development. We will also touch upon related wiki concepts and provide guidance for both readers and editors.

What is a Red Link?

A red link, visually, is a hyperlink that appears in red text on a wiki page. Unlike blue links, which point to existing pages, a red link indicates a page that *does not currently exist* on the wiki. It signifies a potential topic that has been mentioned but hasn’t yet been developed into a full article. Think of it as a placeholder, a suggestion, or an invitation to create new content.

The color red is universally used within MediaWiki to signify these missing pages. This consistent visual cue helps users quickly identify areas where the wiki’s coverage is incomplete. It's a core feature designed to encourage collaborative content creation. It's different from a broken link (Broken link), which *used* to point to a page but now doesn't, for reasons such as the target page being deleted or the URL being incorrect.

Why do Red Links Appear?

Red links appear for several reasons, all related to the wiki's evolving nature:

  • **New Topics Mentioned:** When an editor mentions a concept, person, place, or event that hasn't yet been documented on the wiki, the link to that topic will appear red. This commonly happens when discussing specialized subjects, niche interests, or recently developed ideas.
  • **Unintentional Links:** Sometimes, editors inadvertently create red links by typing a title that they intended to be plain text but accidentally formatted as a link using double square brackets ([[ ]]). This is more common for beginners still learning the wiki syntax.
  • **Future Topics:** An editor might intentionally create a red link to signal an intention to write an article on that topic in the future. This can serve as a reminder to themselves or to other editors.
  • **Mistakes in Linking:** Incorrectly typed page titles will also result in red links. A slight misspelling can prevent the link from resolving to an existing page.
  • **Pages Needing Splitting:** Occasionally, a very large article might benefit from being split into smaller, more focused articles. Red links can indicate where such splits are desirable.

How to Resolve a Red Link: Creating a New Page

The primary way to "resolve" a red link is to *create* the missing page. This is the core principle of collaborative wiki editing. Here's how:

1. **Click the Red Link:** Clicking on a red link will take you to a page titled "Page Title does not exist." (Replace "Page Title" with the actual title of the link.) 2. **Edit the Page:** This page will contain a text box allowing you to start writing content. You will typically see a message like "You can start a new page by entering some text in the box below." 3. **Write Your Content:** Begin writing the article, adhering to the wiki's style guidelines and policies. Include reliable sources and maintain a neutral point of view (Neutral point of view). 4. **Save the Page:** Once you've written sufficient content, click the "Save page" button. The red link in the original article will now turn blue, indicating that the page exists.

Best Practices When Creating Pages from Red Links

  • **Research First:** Before creating a new page, conduct thorough research to ensure the topic is notable and meets the wiki’s inclusion criteria (Wikipedia:Notability).
  • **Check for Existing Information:** Search the wiki to confirm that the topic isn’t already covered under a different name or as part of a larger article. Use the wiki's search function effectively.
  • **Start Small:** You don't need to write a comprehensive article immediately. Start with a basic overview and expand it over time.
  • **Use Wiki Syntax:** Familiarize yourself with MediaWiki syntax to properly format your article. (See Help:Editing for details.)
  • **Add Categories:** Categorize your article appropriately to help other users find it. (See Help:Category for details.)
  • **Internal Linking:** Link to related articles within your new page to improve navigation and provide context.
  • **Cite Your Sources:** Always cite your sources using the wiki’s citation guidelines. (Wikipedia:Citing sources)

Dealing with Unintentional Red Links

If you encounter a red link that you didn't intend to create, it's usually a simple fix:

1. **Edit the Page:** Edit the page containing the red link. 2. **Remove the Link Formatting:** Remove the double square brackets ([[ ]]) around the text that is causing the red link. For example, change `Example Text` to `Example Text`. 3. **Save the Page:** Save your changes. The red link will disappear, and the text will appear as plain text.

The Significance of Red Links for Wiki Development

Red links are more than just visual indicators of missing content; they are vital for the health and growth of a wiki:

  • **Identifying Gaps:** They highlight areas where the wiki’s coverage is incomplete, guiding editors to topics that need attention.
  • **Encouraging Collaboration:** Red links invite users to contribute and expand the wiki’s knowledge base.
  • **Tracking Progress:** The number and distribution of red links can provide insights into the wiki’s development status and identify areas where more effort is needed.
  • **Quality Control:** They can help identify potential errors or inconsistencies in linking.
  • **Community Building:** Addressing red links fosters a sense of community and shared ownership of the wiki.

Tools and Features Related to Red Links

  • **"What Links Here" (Special:WhatLinksHere):** This special page allows you to see which pages link to a specific page, including red links. This can be helpful for identifying where a missing page is referenced.
  • **"Wanted Pages" (Special:WantedPages):** This special page lists all the red links on the wiki, providing a comprehensive overview of missing content. It's a great resource for finding topics to write about.
  • **Redlink Restoration:** Some wikis have tools to help identify and restore previously deleted pages that are now appearing as red links.
  • **Category:Pages needing attention:** Many wikis use this category to flag pages with red links that require attention.

Red Links and Technical Analysis/Trading (Illustrative Example – connecting Wiki to a different domain)

While this wiki primarily focuses on wiki editing, let's illustrate how red links *could* relate to a different domain like technical analysis in trading:

Imagine a wiki about financial markets. A page about "Elliott Wave Theory" might contain a red link to "Fibonacci Retracements." This indicates that while Elliott Wave Theory is discussed, a dedicated page explaining Fibonacci Retracements – a critical component – doesn’t exist. Creating that page would enhance the wiki’s completeness.

Similarly, an article on Candlestick patterns might have red links to specific patterns like “Engulfing Pattern”, “Doji”, or “Hammer”. Addressing these red links would build a more comprehensive resource for traders.

Here are some terms often encountered in technical analysis that could appear as red links on a financial wiki:

These could also be linked to concepts like Algorithmic Trading, High-Frequency Trading, or Quantitative Analysis. The presence of red links indicates areas where the wiki’s coverage of these vital trading concepts is incomplete.

Avoiding Excessive Red Links

While red links are valuable, excessive use can make a page appear cluttered and unfinished. Here are some guidelines:

  • **Only Link Notable Topics:** Avoid linking to obscure or trivial concepts that are unlikely to warrant their own articles.
  • **Consider Context:** If a topic is only briefly mentioned, it might not need a link.
  • **Use Discretion:** If you're unsure whether to create a link, err on the side of caution.
  • **Clean Up After Yourself:** If you create a red link intending to create the page later, remember to do so or remove the link if you change your mind.

Conclusion

Red links are an integral part of the MediaWiki ecosystem. They are not errors, but rather opportunities for growth and collaboration. By understanding their meaning, causes, and how to resolve them, you can contribute to a more comprehensive and informative wiki. Embrace the red links – they are the building blocks of a constantly evolving knowledge base. They are a visual representation of the wiki’s potential, waiting to be unlocked by dedicated editors like yourself.

Help:Contents MediaWiki Wikipedia Editing Help:Linking Special:WhatLinksHere Special:WantedPages Wikipedia:Notability Help:Category Wikipedia:Citing sources


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