View source for Help:Wikitext examples

from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_examples

For basic information see [[Help:Editing]].
== Basic text formatting ==
You can format the page using Wikitext special characters.

{|width="80%"  border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|-
!What it looks like
!What you type
|-
|
You can ''italicize text'' by putting 2
apostrophes on each side.

3 apostrophes will '''bold the text'''.

5 apostrophes will '''bold''' and ''italicize''
'''''the text'''''.

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything special -- <br>they are just '''' left over ones'''' that are included as part of the text.)
|<pre>
You can ''italicize text'' by putting 2
apostrophes on each side.

3 apostrophes will '''bold the text'''.

5 apostrophes will '''bold''' and ''italicize''
'''''the text'''''.

(Using 4 apostrophes doesn't do anything
special -- <br /> they are just ''''left
over ones'''' that are included as part
of the text.)
</pre>
|-
|
A single newline
generally has no effect on the layout.
These can be used to separate
sentences within a paragraph.
Some editors find that this aids editing
and improves the ''diff'' function
(used internally to compare
different versions of a page).

But an empty line
starts a new paragraph.

When used in a list, a newline ''does'' affect the layout ([[#lists|see below]]).
|<pre>
A single newline
generally has no effect on the layout.
These can be used to separate
sentences within a paragraph.
Some editors find that this aids editing
and improves the ''diff'' function
(used internally to compare
different versions of a page).

But an empty line
starts a new paragraph.

When used in a list, a newline ''does''
affect the layout ([[#lists|see below]]).
</pre>
|-
|
You can break lines<br/>
without a new paragraph.<br/>
Please use this sparingly.

Please do not start a link or ''italics'' or '''bold''' on one line and close it on the next.
|<pre>
You can break lines<br/>
without a new paragraph.<br/>
Please use this sparingly.

Please do not start a link or
''italics'' or '''bold''' on one line
and close it on the next.
</pre>
|-
|
You should "sign" your comments on talk pages: <br/>
- Three tildes gives your signature: [[User:Example|Example]] <br/>
- Four tildes give your signature plus date/time: [[User:Example|Example]] 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC) <br/>
- Five tildes gives the date/time alone: 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC) <br/>
|<pre>
You should "sign" your comments
on talk pages:
- Three tildes gives your
signature: ~~~
- Four tildes give your
signature plus date/time: ~~~~
- Five tildes gives the
date/time alone: ~~~~~
</pre>
|}

=== HTML tags ===
You can use some ''HTML tags'' too.  For a list of HTML tags that are allowed, see [[Help:HTML in wikitext|HTML in wikitext]]. However, you should avoid HTML in favor of Wiki markup whenever possible.


{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
Put text in a <tt>typewriter
font</tt>. The same font is
generally used for <code>
computer code</code>.
|<pre>
Put text in a <tt>typewriter
font</tt>. The same font is
generally used for <code>
computer code</code>.
</pre>
|-
|
<strike>Strike out</strike>
or <u>underline</u> text,
or write it <span style=
"font-variant:small-caps">
in small caps</span>.
|<pre>
<strike>Strike out</strike>
or <u>underline</u> text,
or write it <span style=
"font-variant:small-caps">
in small caps</span>.
</pre>
|-
|
Superscripts and subscripts:
X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O
|<pre>
Superscripts and subscripts:
X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O
</pre>
|-
|
<center>Centered text</center>
* Please note the American spelling of "center".
|<pre>
<center>Centered text</center>
* Please note the American spelling of "center".
</pre>
|-
|
<blockquote>
The '''blockquote''' command formats block
quotations, typically by surrounding them
with whitespace and a slightly different font.
</blockquote>
|<pre>
<blockquote>
The '''blockquote''' command formats block
quotations, typically by surrounding them
with whitespace and a slightly different font.
</blockquote>
</pre>
|-
|
Invisible comments to editors (&lt;!-- --&gt;)
appear only while editing the page.
<!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->

* If you wish to make comments to the public, you should usually use the [[talk page]].
|<pre>
Invisible comments to editors (&amp;lt;!-- --&amp;gt;)
appear only while editing the page.
<!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->
</pre>
|}

=== Organizing your writing ===
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
<div style="font-size:150%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;">Section headings</div>

''Headings'' organize your writing into
sections. The Wiki software can automatically
generate a [[Help:table of contents|table of contents]] from them.

<div style="font-size:132%;font-weight:bold;">Subsection</div>
Using more "equals" (=) signs creates a subsection.

<div style="font-size:116%;font-weight:bold;">A smaller subsection</div>

Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

Start with 2 equals signs not 1 because 1 creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.
|<pre>
== Section headings ==

''Headings'' organize your writing into
sections. The Wiki software can automatically
generate a [[table of contents]] from them.

=== Subsection ===
Using more "equals" (=) signs creates a subsection.

==== A smaller subsection ====

Don't skip levels,
like from two to four equals signs.

Start with 2 equals signs not 1
because 1 creates H1 tags
which should be reserved for page title.
</pre>
|- id="lists"
|
* ''Unordered [[Help:List|list]]s'' are easy to do:
** Start every line with a star.
*** More stars indicate a deeper level.
*: Previous item continues.
** A newline
* in a list
marks the end of the list.
*Of course you can start again.
|<pre>
* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do:
** Start every line with a star.
*** More stars indicate a deeper level.
*: Previous item continues.
** A newline
* in a list
marks the end of the list.
*Of course you can start again.
</pre>
|-
|
# ''Numbered lists'' are:
## Very organized
## Easy to follow
A newline marks the end of the list.
# New numbering starts with 1.

|<pre>
# ''Numbered lists'' are:
## Very organized
## Easy to follow
A newline marks the end of the list.
# New numbering starts with 1.
</pre>
|-
|
Here's a ''definition list'':
; Word : Definition of the word
; A longer phrase needing definition
: Phrase defined
; A word : Which has a definition
: Also a second one
: And even a third

Begin with a semicolon. One item per line;
a newline can appear before the colon, but
using a space before the colon improves
parsing.
|<pre>
Here's a ''definition list'':
; Word : Definition of the word
; A longer phrase needing definition
: Phrase defined
; A word : Which has a definition
: Also a second one
: And even a third

Begin with a semicolon. One item per line;
a newline can appear before the colon, but
using a space before the colon improves
parsing.
</pre>
|-
|
* You can even do mixed lists
*# and nest them
*# inside each other
*#* or break lines<br>in lists.
*#; definition lists
*#: can be
*#:; nested : too
|<pre>
* You can even do mixed lists
*# and nest them
*# inside each other
*#* or break lines<br>in lists.
*#; definition lists
*#: can be
*#:; nested : too
</pre>
|-
|
: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.
A newline starts a new paragraph. <br>
Should only be used on [[talk pages]]. <br>
For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag.
: We use 1 colon to indent once.
:: We use 2 colons to indent twice.
::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.
|<pre>
: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.
A newline starts a new paragraph.
Should only be used on talk pages.
For articles, you probably want the blockquote tag.
: We use 1 colon to indent once.
:: We use 2 colons to indent twice.
::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.
</pre>
|-
|
You can make [[w:horizontal dividing line|horizontal dividing line]]s (----)
to separate text.
----
But you should usually use sections instead,
so that they go in the table of contents.
|<pre>
You can make horizontal dividing lines (----)
to separate text.
----
But you should usually use sections instead,
so that they go in the table of contents.
</pre>
|-
|
You can add footnotes to sentences using the ''ref'' tag -- this is especially good for citing a source.

:There are over six billion people in the world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref>

References: <references/>

For details, see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] and [[Help:Footnotes]].
|
<pre>
You can add footnotes to sentences using
the ''ref'' tag -- this is especially good
for citing a source.

:There are over six billion people in the
world.<ref>CIA World Factbook, 2006.</ref>

References: <references/>

For details, see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]]
and [[Help:Footnotes]].
</pre>
|}

See also [[Wikipedia:Picture tutorial#Forcing a break]] (not just for pictures).

=== Links ===

You will often want to make clickable ''links'' to other pages.

{|width="100%"  border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|-
!What it looks like
!What you type
|-
|
Here's a link to a page named [[Official position]].
You can even say [[official position]]s
and the link will show up correctly.
|<pre>
Here's a link to a page named [[Official position]].
You can even say [[official position]]s
and the link will show up correctly.
</pre>
|-
|
You can put formatting around a link.
Example: ''[[Wikipedia]]''.
|<pre>
You can put formatting around a link.
Example: ''[[Wikipedia]]''.
</pre>
|-
|
The ''first letter'' of articles is automatically
capitalized, so [[wikipedia]] goes to the same place
as [[Wikipedia]]. Capitalization matters after the
first letter.
|<pre>
The ''first letter'' of articles is automatically
capitalized, so [[wikipedia]] goes to the same place
as [[Wikipedia]]. Capitalization matters after the
first letter.
</pre>
|-
|
[[Intentionally permanent red link]] is a page that doesn't exist
yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.
|<pre>
[[Intentionally permanent red link]] is a page that doesn't exist
yet. You could create it by clicking on the link.
</pre>
|-
|
You can link to a page section by its title:

* [[List of cities by country#Morocco]].

If multiple sections have the same title, add
a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the
third section named "Example section".
|<pre>
You can link to a page section by its title:

* [[List of cities by country#Morocco]].

If multiple sections have the same title, add
a number. [[#Example section 3]] goes to the
third section named "Example section".
</pre>
|-
|
You can make a link point to a different place
with a [[Help:Piped link|piped link]]. Put the link
target first, then the pipe character "|", then
the link text.

* [[Help:Link|About Links]]
* [[List of cities by country#Morocco|Cities in Morocco]]

Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that a title that
contains disambiguation text will appear with more concise
link text.

* [[Spinning (textiles)|Spinning]]
* [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]]
|<pre>
You can make a link point to a different place
with a [[Help:Piped link|piped link]]. Put the link
target first, then the pipe character "|", then
the link text.

* [[Help:Link|About Links]]
* [[List of cities by country#Morocco|Cities in Morocco]]

Or you can use the "pipe trick" so that a title that
contains disambiguation text will appear with more concise
link text.

* [[Spinning (textiles)|]]
* [[Boston, Massachusetts|]]
</pre>
|-
|
You can make an external link just by typing a URL:
http://www.nupedia.com

You can give it a title:
[http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia]

Or leave the title blank:
[http://www.nupedia.com]

External link can be used to link to a wiki page that cannot be linked to with <nowiki>[[page]]</nowiki>:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fotonotes&oldid=482030#Installation
|
<pre>
You can make an external link just by typing a URL:
http://www.nupedia.com

You can give it a title:
[http://www.nupedia.com Nupedia]

Or leave the title blank:
[http://www.nupedia.com]

External link can be used to link to a wiki page that
cannot be linked to with <nowiki>[[page]]</nowiki>:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fotonotes
&oldid=482030#Installation
</pre>
|-
|
Linking to an e-mail address works the same way:
mailto:someone@example.com or [mailto:someone@example.com someone]
|
<pre>
Linking to an e-mail address works the same way:
mailto:someone@example.com or [mailto:someone@example.com someone]
</pre>
|-
|
You can [[Help:Redirect|redirect]] the user to another page.
|<pre>
#REDIRECT [[Official position]]
</pre>
|-
|
[[Help:Category|Category links]] do not show up in line
but instead at page bottom ''and cause the page to be
listed in the category.''

Add an extra colon to ''link'' to a category in line
without causing the page to be listed in the category:
[[:Category:English documentation]]
|<pre>
[[Help:Category|Category links]] do not show up in line
but instead at page bottom ''and cause the page to be
listed in the category.''
[[Category:English documentation]]
[[Category:Editor handbook]]

Add an extra colon to ''link'' to a category in line
without causing the page to be listed in the category:
[[:Category:English documentation]]
</pre>
|-
|
The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's
date preferences. These three dates will show up the
same if you choose a format in your
[[Special:Preferences|Preferences]]:
* [[1969-07-20]]
* [[July 20]], [[1969]]
* [[20 July]] [[1969]]
|<pre>
The Wiki reformats linked dates to match the reader's
date preferences. These three dates will show up the
same if you choose a format in your
[[Special:Preferences|]]:
* [[1969-07-20]]
* [[July 20]], [[1969]]
* [[20 July]] [[1969]]
</pre>
|}

=== Just show what I typed ===

A few different kinds of formatting will tell the Wiki to display things as you typed them.

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
<nowiki>
The nowiki tag ignores
[[Wiki]] ''markup''.
It reformats text by
removing
newlines    and multiple
 spaces.
It still interprets special
characters: →
</nowiki>
|<pre>
&lt;nowiki&gt;
The nowiki tag ignores
[[Wiki]] ''markup''.
It reformats text by
removing
newlines    and multiple
 spaces.
It still interprets special
characters: &amp;rarr;
&lt;/nowiki&gt;
</pre>
|-
|
<pre>
The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: →
</pre>
|<pre>
&lt;pre&gt;
The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]]
 ''markup''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: &amp;rarr;
&lt;/pre&gt;
</pre>
|-
|
[[Wikipedia:How to edit a page#No or limited formatting—showing exactly what is being typed|Leading spaces]] are another way to preserve formatting.

 Putting a space at the
 beginning of each
 line stops the text
 from being
 reformatted.  It still
 interprets [[Wiki]]
 ''markup'' and special
 characters: →
|<pre>
Leading spaces are another way
to preserve formatting.

 Putting a space at the
 beginning of each
 line stops the text
 from being
 reformatted.  It still
 interprets [[Wiki]]
 ''markup'' and special
 characters: &amp;rarr;
</pre>
|}

If you need to display [[Character encodings in HTML|special HTML characters]] you have to replace the initial "<tt>&</tt>" with "<tt>&amp;amp;</tt>"; e.g. to display the special character ''Right arrow'' (&rarr;) use: <tt>&amp;amp;rarr;</tt>.
{{See also|Wikipedia:How to edit a page}}

=== Images, tables, video, and sounds ===

After uploading, just enter the filename, highlight it and press the "embedded image"-button of the edit_toolbar.

This will produce the syntax for uploading a file '''<nowiki>[[Image:filename.png]]</nowiki>'''

This is a very quick introduction. For more information, see:
* [[Help:Images and other uploaded files]] for how to upload files
* [[w:en:Wikipedia:Extended image syntax]] for how to arrange images on the page
* [[Help:Table]] for how to create a table

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
A picture, including alternate text:

[[Image:Wiki.png|This Wiki's logo]]

You can put the image in a frame with a caption:
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame|This Wiki's logo]]
|<pre>
A picture, including alternate text:

[[Image:Wiki.png|This Wiki's logo]]

The image in a frame with a caption:
[[Image:Wiki.png|frame|This Wiki's logo]]
</pre>
|-
|
A link to Wikipedia's page for the image:
[[:Image:Wiki.png]]

Or a link directly to the image itself:
[[Media:Wiki.png]]
|<pre>
A link to Wikipedia's page for the image:
[[:Image:Wiki.png]]

Or a link directly to the image itself:
[[Media:Wiki.png]]
</pre>
|-
|
Use '''media:''' links to link
directly to sounds or videos:
[[media:Classical guitar scale.ogg|A sound file]]
|<pre>
Use '''media:''' links to link
directly to sounds or videos:
[[media:Classical guitar scale.ogg|A sound file]]
</pre>
|-
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="center"
! This
! is
|-
| a
| table
|-
|}
|<pre>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="center"
! This
! is
|-
| a
| table
|-
|}

</pre>
|}

=== Mathematical formulas ===
You can format mathematical formulas with [[w:TeX|TeX]] markup. See [[Help:Displaying a formula]].

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
<math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>
|<pre><nowiki>
<math>\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}</math>
</nowiki></pre>
|}

=== Software source code ===
You can format software source code.
See [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:SyntaxHighlight_GeSHi Mediawiki: Extension:SyntaxHighlight GeSHi].


{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
<source lang=cpp>
// 'Hello World!' program
#include <iostream>
int main(){
  std::cout << "Hello World!" << std::endl;
  return 0;
}
</source>
|<pre><nowiki>
<source lang=cpp>
// 'Hello World!' program
#include <iostream>
int main(){
  std::cout << "Hello World!" << std::endl;
  return 0;
}
</source>
</nowiki></pre>
|}

=== Templates ===

'''[[Help:Template|Templates]]''' are segments of Wiki markup that are meant to be copied automatically ("transcluded") into a page.
You add them by putting the template's name in <nowiki>{{double braces}}</nowiki>. It is also possible to transclude other pages by using <nowiki>{{:colon and double braces}}</nowiki>.

Some templates take ''parameters'', as well, which you separate with the pipe character.

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="1000"|What it looks like
!width="500"|What you type
|-
|
{{Transclusion demo}}
|<pre>
{{Transclusion demo}}
</pre>
|-
|
{{Help:Transclusion Demo}}
|<pre>
{{Help:Transclusion Demo}}
</pre>
|-
|

This template takes two parameters, and
creates underlined text with a hover box
for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

{{H:title|This is the hover text|
Hover your mouse over this text}}

Go to this page to see the H:title template
itself: {{tl|H:title}}

|<pre>
This template takes two parameters, and
creates underlined text with a hover box
for many modern browsers supporting CSS:

{{H:title|This is the hover text|
Hover your mouse over this text}}

Go to this page to see the H:title template
itself: {{tl|H:title}}
</pre>
|}

<noinclude>
[[Category:Editor handbook]]</noinclude>