Wikilinks

Wikilinks: Connecting Your Wiki Knowledge

Wikilinks are the backbone of navigation and interconnectedness within a MediaWiki site. They allow you to seamlessly link from one page to another, creating a web of information that is easy to explore and understand. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing wikilinks effectively, geared towards beginners. We will cover everything from basic syntax to more advanced techniques, ensuring you can build a well-linked and navigable wiki. Understanding Help:Links is crucial for effective wiki building.

What are Wikilinks?

At their core, wikilinks are hyperlinks that point to other pages within the same wiki. They are created using a specific syntax that tells the MediaWiki software that a particular piece of text should be interpreted as a link. When a user clicks on a wikilink, their browser will navigate to the target page. This is fundamentally different from external links, which point to websites *outside* the wiki. Wikilinks are what transform a collection of individual pages into a cohesive knowledge base. Think of them as the threads that weave together the fabric of your wiki.

Basic Syntax

The fundamental syntax for creating a wikilink is to enclose the target page title within double square brackets:

`Page Title`

For example, if you want to link to a page titled "Trading Strategies", you would write:

`Trading Strategies`

This will render as a link that, when clicked, will take the user to the "Trading Strategies" page. If the page "Trading Strategies" does not exist, the link will appear in red, indicating a broken link or a page that needs to be created. This is a useful feature, as it highlights gaps in your wiki's content.

Link Titles and Tooltips

You can customize the text that appears as the link, independent of the target page title. This is done by separating the link text from the page title with a pipe symbol (`|`):

`Link Text`

For example:

`Effective Trading Strategies`

This will render as "Effective Trading Strategies", but clicking it will still take you to the "Trading Strategies" page. This is useful for providing more context or using a more descriptive phrase as the link text.

You can also add a tooltip, which appears when the user hovers their mouse over the link, by separating the link text and tooltip with a pipe symbol:

`Link Text|Tooltip Text`

For example:

`Effective Trading Strategies|Learn about different trading approaches`

The tooltip provides additional information to the user without cluttering the main text.

Linking to Sections within a Page

Wikilinks aren't limited to linking to entire pages. You can also link directly to specific sections within a page using the `#` symbol followed by the section heading.

`Page Title#Section Heading`

For example, if you have a page called "Technical Analysis" with a section titled "Moving Averages", you can link directly to that section:

`Technical Analysis#Moving Averages`

This will take the user directly to the "Moving Averages" section of the "Technical Analysis" page. This is particularly helpful for large pages with multiple sections, allowing users to quickly navigate to the information they need.

Automatically Linking Keywords

MediaWiki has a feature that automatically links certain keywords. This is controlled by the `$wgAutomaticLinking` configuration variable, and the list of keywords is defined in `MediaWiki:AutolinkNames`. While useful, it's generally recommended to rely on explicit wikilinks for better control and clarity. Over-reliance on automatic linking can lead to unintended links and a less polished wiki experience.

Best Practices for Using Wikilinks

Relevance is Key: Only link to pages that are directly relevant to the current topic. Avoid linking for the sake of linking; it can be distracting and unhelpful.
Use Descriptive Link Text: Choose link text that accurately reflects the content of the target page. This helps users understand where the link will take them.
Avoid Redundant Links: Don't repeatedly link to the same page within a short span of text. Once is usually sufficient.
Check for Broken Links: Regularly check your wiki for broken links (red links) and either create the missing pages or remove the links. Tools like Special:BrokenLinks can help with this.
Consider Context: Think about the context in which the link is being used. Is it providing additional information, expanding on a point, or offering a related resource?
Use Section Linking Wisely: Section linking is great for large pages, but don't overuse it. Only link to sections when it genuinely improves navigation.

Advanced Wikilinking Techniques

Interlanguage Links: Wikilinks can be used to link to the same page in different languages. This is done using the `Language Code:Page Title` syntax. For example, `fr:Trading Strategies` would link to the "Trading Strategies" page in French.
Redirects: You can create redirects, where one page automatically forwards to another. This is useful for providing multiple ways to access the same content. Create a page with the redirect target and use the `#REDIRECT Target Page` syntax.
Templates and Wikilinks: Templates can be used to generate wikilinks dynamically. This is useful for creating consistent links throughout your wiki.
Categories and Wikilinks: Categories are a powerful way to organize your wiki's content. Use the `` syntax to add pages to categories. This allows users to browse content by topic.

Wikilinks and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

While wikilinks are primarily for internal navigation, they also play a role in SEO. Search engines use links to understand the structure and content of a website. Well-linked wikis can rank higher in search results because they provide a clear and organized information architecture. However, SEO is not the primary goal of wikilinks; usability and accessibility should always come first.

Wikilinks in Relation to Other MediaWiki Features

Wikilinks work seamlessly with other MediaWiki features, such as:

Tables: You can include wikilinks within table cells.
Lists: You can include wikilinks within list items.
Images: You can link images to other pages.
External Links: Wikilinks are distinct from external links, which are created using the `[URL Description]` syntax.
Templates: Templates can dynamically generate wikilinks based on parameters.

Troubleshooting Common Wikilink Issues

Red Links: As mentioned earlier, red links indicate missing pages. Either create the page or remove the link.
Links Not Working: Double-check the syntax to ensure it is correct. Make sure the target page exists and is accessible. Clear your browser cache.
Incorrect Linking: If a link takes you to the wrong page, review the link text and target page title for errors.
Ambiguous Links: If two pages have the same title, MediaWiki will ask you to disambiguate the link. This can be resolved by using a more specific link title or adding a disambiguation page.

Wikilinks and Financial Knowledge

For a wiki focused on financial topics, effective wikilinking is paramount. Consider linking these concepts:

Fundamental Analysis to Financial Statements
Technical Analysis to Chart Patterns
Risk Management to Stop-Loss Orders
Portfolio Diversification to Asset Allocation
Options Trading to Call Options and Put Options
Forex Trading to Currency Pairs
Stock Market to NYSE and NASDAQ
Cryptocurrency to Bitcoin and Ethereum

Furthermore, linking to specific indicators is vital:

Moving Averages (Simple, Exponential, Weighted)
Relative Strength Index (RSI)
MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)
Bollinger Bands
Fibonacci Retracements
Stochastic Oscillator
Average True Range (ATR)
Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP)
Ichimoku Cloud

And linking to trading strategies:

Understanding market trends is also critical, link to:

Finally, link to related concepts:

By strategically linking these concepts, you create a rich and interconnected learning experience for your users.

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