https://safernicotine.wiki/mediawiki/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Help%3AWP_search_protocolHelp:WP search protocol - Revision history2026-05-01T01:36:40ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.0https://safernicotine.wiki/mediawiki/index.php?title=Help:WP_search_protocol&diff=22671&oldid=prevRichardpruen: 1 revision imported2022-01-02T17:19:47Z<p>1 revision imported</p>
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</table>Richardpruenhttps://safernicotine.wiki/mediawiki/index.php?title=Help:WP_search_protocol&diff=22670&oldid=prevWikipedia>Favonian: Reverted edits by 172.58.35.83 (talk) to last version by Andrybak2021-12-03T12:33:06Z<p>Reverted edits by <a href="/mediawiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/172.58.35.83" title="Special:Contributions/172.58.35.83">172.58.35.83</a> (<a href="/mediawiki/index.php?title=User_talk:172.58.35.83&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="User talk:172.58.35.83 (page does not exist)">talk</a>) to last version by Andrybak</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div><!-- DO NOT REFORMAT ANY OF THE LINKS INCLUDED ON THIS PAGE TO EXPAND THEM FROM THE "WP:" ALIAS TO "WIKIPEDIA:"; THE USE OF THAT ALIAS TO MAKE THE LINKS USED HEREIN IS, ITSELF, THE SUBJECT OF EXPLICIT COMMENTARY IN THIS PAGE'S INFORMATION--><br />
{{Wikipedia how to|H:WP|WP:WPSPR|H:WPSEARCH|WP:WPSEARCH}}<br />
{{ombox<br />
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| style = {{#if:{{{style|}}} |margin:0 auto;width:80%;{{{style}}} }}<br />
| image = [[File:Test Template Info-Icon - Version (2).svg|60px]]<br />
| text = <div style="padding-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 5px;">The template {{tlx|WP search protocol}} (or <code><nowiki>{{WP search}}</nowiki></code>) may be used at help forums and user talk pages to explain the advice on this page.</div>}}<br />
<br />
The '''WP search protocol''' described in this page – an easy method to navigate the labyrinthine behind-the-scenes of Wikipedia – is something ''you likely would have figured out yourself sooner or later''. [[#"Wikipedia:" / "WP:" prefix search protocol|Click here]] if you want to skip the introductory blather below. In fact, everything on this page, can be summarized in one sentence, and if it's enough for your understanding, you may not need to read anything further:<blockquote><span style="font-size:115%;">By merely typing into the [[Help:Searching#Search box|search box]], "'''<code>WP:</code>'''" (an easier-to-type [[WP:ALIAS|alias]] of "'''<code>Wikipedia:</code>'''"), followed by the title/name or phrase of just about ''anything'' you see mentioned by regular editors, or come across in Wikipedia's interface, you can probably find a targeted, behind-the-scenes information/help page or how-to guide providing relevant information on that topic.</span> (That's it!)</blockquote><br />
<br />
==Overview==<br />
Wikipedia has hundreds or even thousands of behind-the-scenes project pages that provide information on all manner of subjects – Wikipedia's internal documentation on its policies and guidelines; its structure; navigation; dos and don'ts of interaction and editing; help pages; discussion forums; collaborative projects; essays on editing; overviews of each element of Wikipedia's viewing and editing interfaces – the list goes on and on.<br />
<br />
As an editor of Wikipedia, a profitable skill is knowing how to navigate the labyrinth of behind-the-scenes pages so that you can easily ''find'' project pages to assist you with aspects of building the encyclopedia. ''This'' project page is directed at that goal, by providing a simple search protocol that, when followed, should allow you to easily target and land on relevant project information and help pages without laborious searching.<br />
<br />
=="<code>Wikipedia:</code>" / "<code>WP:</code>" prefix search protocol==<br />
All of Wikipedia's ''[[WP:Mainspace|encyclopedia articles]]'' will be found at just a base name, with ''no'' prefix. For example, Wikipedia's encyclopedia article on the movie, ''[[The Godfather]]'', is at just the title: "<code>The Godfather</code>". {{tooltip|All|there are some technical exceptions, but they would only be confusing to discuss here}} internal project pages, by contrast, have a prefix in their names, designating its "[[WP:Namespace|namespace]]". For example, Wikipedia's [[WP:Verifiability|bedrock policy on verifiability of information]] is at the name: "<code>Wikipedia:Verifiability</code>". Thus, that project page is in the ''Wikipedia'' namespace.<br />
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Just about any feature of Wikipedia that is a part of the interface, or that you see mentioned by regular editors in discussions (possibly using an abbreviation or acronym, or in truncated or shorthand fashion), can be accessed by typing into the [[Help:Searching#Search box|search box]]: "'''<code>Wikipedia:Name Used</code>'''". This includes the links you see ''right now'' at the top of this page or in the left hand side menus, and just about any Wikipedia project, concept, policy, guideline, essay, tool, script, protocol, style, methodology, etc.<br />
<br />
A time-saving trick to combine with your knowledge of this typical naming protocol is that "'''<code>WP:</code>'''" works as an [[WP:ALIAS|alias]] for "Wikipedia:", reducing typing time. Sometimes the target project page title may actually be in the "{{Tooltip|Help:|(which has the easy-typing alias "H:)}}", or other namespace, but the titling scheme "'''<code>Wikipedia:Name Used</code>'''", and its easier-to-type formulation: "'''<code>WP:Name Used</code>'''", ''will still work seamlessly'', as near invariably [[WP:Redirect|redirecting]] to the actual project page title; the same is true of all likely title variants for major features of Wikipedia's digital interface and conceptual framework.<br />
<br />
This search protocol has, in a sense, already been demonstrated by the manner of the formatting of every one of the [[WP:Pipe|piped links]] provided previously on this page — such as to to the project pages for: ''<code>verifiability</code>'', ''<code>namespace</code>'', ''<code>redirecting</code>''; and yes, even earlier in this sentence, for ''<code>piped links</code>''. Each was typed, and it was known that they would each link to a pertinent project information/help page or how-to guide without having to 'think much at all about it', by use of the shortcut titles: <code>'''WP:'''Verifiability</code>, <code>'''WP:'''Namespace</code>, <code>'''WP:'''Redirect</code> and <code>'''WP:'''Pipe</code>.<br />
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==Example use==<br />
As an example of the usefulness, and prevailing wide scope of this search protocol for title variants: if you are reading this page and are logged in, you'll see a link at the top of this page for your "Watchlist". If you want to know about ''that'' feature of the interface, you can find the main behind-the-scenes project page describing it—despite it actually being at the title "<code>[[Help:Watchlist]]</code>"—by typing ''<u>any of</u>'': <br />
*<code>Wikipedia:Watchlist</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:WATCHLIST</code> ''or'' <code>WP:watchlist</code> ''or'' <code>WP:WATCHLIST</code>;<br />
*<code>Wikipedia:Watch list</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:WATCH LIST</code> ''or'' <code>WP:Watch list</code> ''or'' <code>WP:WATCH LIST</code>;<br />
*<code>Wikipedia:My watchlist</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:MY WATCHLIST</code> ''or'' <code>WP:My watchlist</code> ''or'' <code>WP:MY WATCHLIST</code>;<br />
*<code>Wikipedia:My watch List</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:MY WATCH LIST</code> ''or'' <code>WP:My watch List</code> ''or'' <code>WP:MY WATCH LIST</code>;<br />
*<code>Wikipedia:Watchlisting</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:WATCHLISTING</code> ''or'' <code>WP:Watchlisting</code> ''or'' <code>WP:WATCHLISTING</code>;<br />
*<code>Wikipedia:Watching pages</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:WATCHING PAGES</code> ''or'' <code>WP:Watching pages</code> ''or'' <code>WP:WATCHING PAGES</code>;<br />
*<code>Wikipedia:Watching articles</code> ''or'' <code>Wikipedia:WATCHING ARTICLES</code> ''or'' <code>WP:Watching articles</code> ''or'' <code>WP:WATCHING ARTICLES</code>—<br />
<br />
:—as well as other variations. <br />
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The same is true of most everything else you see or hear mention of as you wend your way through the serpentine forests and backwaters of this mighty encyclopedia project.<br />
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== Try it out below ==<br />
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<inputbox><br />
type=search<br />
width=100<br />
searchbuttonlabel=Search<br />
default=WP:<br />
bgcolor=clear<br />
break=yes<br />
</inputbox><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Help:Searching]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Shortcut index]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Shortcuts]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia abbreviations]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Edit summary legend]]<br />
* [[Wikipedia:WTF? OMG! TMD TLA. ARG!]]<br />
* [[WP:ALIAS]]<br />
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{{Help navigation}}<br />
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[[Category:Wikipedia editor help|{{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
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[[Category:Searching in Wikipedia]]</div>Wikipedia>Favonian