When to use

If an image, 3D model, audio or video clip:

  1. is currently available online,
  2. cannot be uploaded to Wikipedia, even under non-free use rules, and
  3. readers will expect this type of media in the article,

then it may be appropriate to use {{external media}} to provide a direct link to the media file along with a description of the media.

The {{external media}} template should be removed as soon as a replacement of adequate quality and accuracy is available in WP:COMMONS. At that time, the link included in this template may be considered for inclusion as a regular WP:External link in the ==External links== section.

Copyright

According to WP:ELNEVER and WP:COPYLINK, editors must never link to content that violates copyright or is otherwise illegal. If you are uncertain of the copyright status (for example, with links to YouTube), ask for help at Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. If you're certain that the copyright status is acceptable, but others might wonder later, make it clear in the template or in the reference that you link to material from a rightful distributor (examples can be found at grindcore).

Where to use

This template is normally placed in the main body of the article, in the same place that you would normally have placed the image, 3D model, audio, or video clip if it had been available on Wikimedia Commons.

When placing links in the ==External links== section, please use the normal formatting for external links, as explained at WP:External links#Rich media and WP:External links#How to link, rather than this template.

Usage

Paste this into your article, removing the parameters that are left blank:

{{external media
| float  =
| width  =
| topic  =  <!--centered italic text--->
| caption =  <!-- text placed left or right of headerimage --->
| headerimage= <!--search commons please include "|alt= text" and x-height in px "|x20px" example [[File:YouTube Logo 2017.svg|alt=YouTube logo|x20px|left]] or ...|right]] --->
| title  = 
| image1 =
| image2 =
| image3 =
| audio1 =
| audio2 =
| audio3 =
| video1 =
| video2 =
| video3 =
| model1 =
| model2 =
| model3 =
}}

The {{external media}} template can be used multiple times in an article, and each instance can be used to link to more than one file.

Parameters

float
Valid options are "left", "right" and "center". The template defaults to displaying on the right-hand-side.
width
This should be a complete width measurement including units. Examples: 300px, 22em, 30%. The template defaults to 258px wide.
topic
Optional text field that will appear above the media links.
title
Optional text to replace the automatically calculated title.
headerimage
Optional image to display at the top of the template. Use full image syntax, for example [[File:example.png|200px]].
caption
Optional caption text to put underneath the header image.
media links
Each file to be linked should specify its type and have a different number, starting from 1. For example, a template containing four images and one video would label them as image1, image2, image3, image4 and video1. The attribute has a free format, so any amount of detail may be added. The first part of the entry should be formatted as a normal external link, i.e. [http://example.com/image.jpg Image description] for Image description. After that, any additional detail can be given on the same line. See the examples for details.
Note: when adding a link to an external media source like this, it is essential that the source page be linked too with the date of retrieval, both to satisfy Wikipedia's sourcing criteria for the statement about the presented media and to ensure that the link can quickly be corrected should the source URL be changed. Reference tags can be used for this purpose.
TemplateData

Provides a box with a direct link to media hosted off of Wikipedia

Template parameters

ParameterDescriptionTypeStatus
titletitle

Optional text to replace the automatically calculated title

Unknownoptional
topictopic

Optional text field that will appear above the media links

Unknownoptional
captioncaption

Optional caption text to put underneath the header image

Unknownoptional
image1image1

no description

Unknownoptional
audio1audio1

no description

Unknownoptional
video1video1

no description

Unknownoptional
model1model1

no description

Unknownoptional
widthwidth

Width of the box

Default
258px
Example
300px, 22em, 30%
Unknownoptional
floatfloat

Alignment of the box on the page

Suggested values
left right center
Stringsuggested
headerimageheaderimage

Optional image to display at the top of the template. Use full image syntax, for example [[File:example.png|200px]].

Unbalanced wikitextoptional
image2image2

no description

Unknownoptional
model2model2

no description

Unknownoptional
image3image3

no description

Unknownoptional
image4image4

no description

Unknownoptional
image5image5

no description

Unknownoptional
image6image6

no description

Unknownoptional
image7image7

no description

Unknownoptional
image8image8

no description

Unknownoptional
image9image9

no description

Unknownoptional
image10image10

no description

Unknownoptional
image11image11

no description

Unknownoptional
image12image12

no description

Unknownoptional
image13image13

no description

Unknownoptional
image14image14

no description

Unknownoptional
image15image15

no description

Unknownoptional
image16image16

no description

Unknownoptional
image17image17

no description

Unknownoptional
image18image18

no description

Unknownoptional
image19image19

no description

Unknownoptional
image20image20

no description

Unknownoptional
audio2audio2

no description

Unknownoptional
audio3audio3

no description

Unknownoptional
audio4audio4

no description

Unknownoptional
audio5audio5

no description

Unknownoptional
audio6audio6

no description

Unknownoptional
audio7audio7

no description

Unknownoptional
audio8audio8

no description

Unknownoptional
audio9audio9

no description

Unknownoptional
audio10audio10

no description

Unknownoptional
audio11audio11

no description

Unknownoptional
audio12audio12

no description

Unknownoptional
audio13audio13

no description

Unknownoptional
audio14audio14

no description

Unknownoptional
audio15audio15

no description

Unknownoptional
audio16audio16

no description

Unknownoptional
audio17audio17

no description

Unknownoptional
audio18audio18

no description

Unknownoptional
audio19audio19

no description

Unknownoptional
audio20audio20

no description

Unknownoptional
video2video2

no description

Unknownoptional
video3video3

no description

Unknownoptional
video4video4

no description

Unknownoptional
video5video5

no description

Unknownoptional
video6video6

no description

Unknownoptional
video7video7

no description

Unknownoptional
video8video8

no description

Unknownoptional
video9video9

no description

Unknownoptional
video10video10

no description

Unknownoptional
video11video11

no description

Unknownoptional
video12video12

no description

Unknownoptional
video13video13

no description

Unknownoptional
video14video14

no description

Unknownoptional
video15video15

no description

Unknownoptional
video16video16

no description

Unknownoptional
video17video17

no description

Unknownoptional
video18video18

no description

Unknownoptional
video19video19

no description

Unknownoptional
video20video20

no description

Unknownoptional
model3model3

no description

Unknownoptional
model4model4

no description

Unknownoptional
model5model5

no description

Unknownoptional
model6model6

no description

Unknownoptional
model7model7

no description

Unknownoptional
model8model8

no description

Unknownoptional
model9model9

no description

Unknownoptional
model10model10

no description

Unknownoptional
model11model11

no description

Unknownoptional
model12model12

no description

Unknownoptional
model13model13

no description

Unknownoptional
model14model14

no description

Unknownoptional
model15model15

no description

Unknownoptional
model16model16

no description

Unknownoptional
model17model17

no description

Unknownoptional
model18model18

no description

Unknownoptional
model19model19

no description

Unknownoptional
model20model20

no description

Unknownoptional

Examples

Just an image

Image taken from the War against Nabis Featured Article. This example gives full contextual information along with references.

External image
image icon Fighting style of Greek phalangites with long lances during the Roman-Spartan War (Note the late Greek hoplite helmets with open visors made of several parts and not from one like in earlier times. The leg protection was often leather to allow for faster movement. This fighting style was not in use during the Battle of Marathon; at that time the lances were shorter and held with one hand. Longer lances, held with both hands, were adopted with the introduction of lighter hoplites and later phalangites. As a result of their long and heavy lance which was handled with both arms they needed a lighter shield than the old hoplites.[1][2])
{{external media
| float = right
| width = 258px
| image1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120211124946id_/http://www.ancientmesopotamia.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/macedonianphalanx.jpg Fighting style of Greek phalangites with long lances during the Roman-Spartan War] (Note the late Greek hoplite helmets with open visors made of several parts and not from one like in earlier times. The leg protection was often leather to allow for faster movement. This fighting style was not in use during the [[Battle of Marathon]]; at that time the lances were shorter and held with one hand. Longer lances, held with both hands, were adopted with the introduction of lighter hoplites and later [[phalangite]]s. As a result of their long and heavy lance which was handled with both arms they needed a lighter shield than the old hoplites.<ref>''Warfare in the Classical World'',p. 34f (Greek Hoplite (c.480BC)) p. 67 (Iphicrates reforms)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ancientmesopotamia.net/id27.html |title=Battle of Marathon |accessdate=2006-12-26 |work=Ancient Mesopotamia|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060224052909/http://www.ancientmesopotamia.net/id27.html |archivedate = February 24, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>)
}}

Image, using descriptive text with accompanying reference:

External image
image icon Metal vambrace with integrated elbow and upper arm protection (reenactment)[3]
{{external media
| float  = right
| width  = 300px
| image1 = [http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/historic/dsmem/dsarmor/dsarmo2/photos/dsarmo232.jpg Metal vambrace with integrated elbow and upper arm protection] (reenactment)<ref>http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/historic/dsmem/dsarmor/dsarmo2/dsarmo232.htm</ref>
}}

Two images with rich accompanying text, floated left:

External images
The Siege of Leningrad
image icon Russian map of the operations around Leningrad in 1943. Blue are the German and allied Finnish troops. The Soviets are red.[4]
image icon map of the advance on Leningrad and relief. Blue are the German and allied Finnish troops. The Soviets are red.[5]
{{external media
| float  = left
| headerimage= [[File:Internet Archive logo and wordmark.svg|85px|right]]
| caption = via [https://archive.org The Internet Archive]
| topic  = The Siege of Leningrad
| image1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20090226113208/http://www.ido.edu.ru/ffec/hist/images/H_4.jpg Russian map of the operations around Leningrad in 1943]. Blue are the German and allied Finnish troops. The Soviets are red.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ido.edu.ru/ffec/hist/h8.html |title=ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЯ. Тема 8 |publisher=Ido.edu.ru |date= |accessdate=2008-10-26 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041223033320/http://ido.edu.ru/ffec/hist/h8.html |archivedate=December 23, 2004}}</ref>
| image2 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20090226113208/http://victory.tass-online.ru/data/Photos/Photo/175.JPEG map of the advance on Leningrad and relief]. Blue are the German and allied Finnish troops. The Soviets are red.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://victory.tass-online.ru/?page=gallery&gcid=9 |script-title=ru:ИТАР-ТАСС :: 60 ЛЕТ ВЕЛИКОЙ ПОБЕДЕ :: |publisher=Victory.tass-online.ru |date= |accessdate=2008-10-26|language=ru}} {{dead link}}</ref>
}}

Audio with topic text and accompanying link to the home page:

External audio
Dog Bark
audio icon the sound of a dog barking, from Wav-Sounds.com, retrieved 13.09.2009
{{external media
| topic  = Dog Bark
| audio1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20101130033309/http://www.wav-sounds.com/various/bark.wav the sound of a dog barking], from [https://web.archive.org/web/20100723141525/http://www.wav-sounds.com/various_wav_sounds.htm Wav-Sounds.com], ''retrieved 13.09.2009''
}}

Single video, floated left:

External video
video icon Movie clip of siphon feeding, QuickTime format[6]
{{external media
| width  = 210px
| float  = left
| video1 = [http://www.arkive.org/scripts/php/force-download.php?file=BEE7098E-088F-4BB4-B6F0-D2E190E5623C/Presentation.Streams/Presentation_QT_DOWNLOAD.mov&saveas=/data/root/Live/www.arkive.org/htdocs/species/peppery-furrow-shell/scrobicularia-plana/video-00.xml&type=mov Movie clip of siphon feeding], QuickTime format<ref>[http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_marine/Scrobicularia_plana/Scrobicularia_plana_00.html?movietype=qtSmall Peppery furrow shell]</ref>
}}

Two CNN videos from YouTube, floated right:

External video
YouTube logo
Two YouTube videos
video icon CNN's exclusive Obama interview
video icon Pres. Obama makes first visit to Kenya as president
{{external media
| float  = right
| caption = Two YouTube videos <!-- text placed left or right of headerimage --->
| headerimage= [[File:YouTube Logo 2017.svg|alt=YouTube logo|x20px|left]]
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBgwuFM92i4 CNN's exclusive Obama interview]
| video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EGLzcQj9RY Pres. Obama makes first visit to Kenya as president]
}}

Mixed content:

External media
Images
image icon Russian map of the operations around Leningrad in 1943. Blue are the German and allied Finnish troops. The Soviets are red.[7]
Audio
audio icon the sound of a dog barking, from Wav-Sounds.com, retrieved 13.09.2009
Video
video icon Movie clip of siphon feeding, QuickTime format.[8]
3D Models
3D model icon 3D model of Hoa Hakananai'a moai statue, linked from Sketchfab.[9]
{{external media
| float  = right
| width  = 300px
| image1 = [http://www.ido.edu.ru/ffec/hist/images/H_4.jpg Russian map of the operations around Leningrad in 1943]. Blue are the German and allied Finnish troops. The Soviets are red.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ido.edu.ru/ffec/hist/h8.html |title=ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЯ. Тема 8 |publisher=Ido.edu.ru |date= |accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref>
| audio1 = [http://www.wav-sounds.com/various/bark.wav the sound of a dog barking], from [http://www.wav-sounds.com/various_wav_sounds.htm here], ''retrieved 13.09.2009''
| video1 = [http://www.arkive.org/scripts/php/force-download.php?file=BEE7098E-088F-4BB4-B6F0-D2E190E5623C/Presentation.Streams/Presentation_QT_DOWNLOAD.mov&saveas=/data/root/Live/www.arkive.org/htdocs/species/peppery-furrow-shell/scrobicularia-plana/video-00.xml&type=mov Movie clip of siphon feeding], QuickTime format.<ref>[http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_marine/Scrobicularia_plana/Scrobicularia_plana_00.html?movietype=qtSmall Peppery furrow shell]</ref>
| model1 = [https://sketchfab.com/models/bb0b6ee82c7b477db4b01a14bd793409 3D model of Hoa Hakananai'a moai statue], linked from Sketchfab.<ref>https://sketchfab.com/models/bb0b6ee82c7b477db4b01a14bd793409</ref>
}}
  1. ^ Warfare in the Classical World,p. 34f (Greek Hoplite (c.480BC)) p. 67 (Iphicrates reforms)
  2. ^ "Battle of Marathon". Ancient Mesopotamia. Archived from the original on February 24, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
  3. ^ http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/historic/dsmem/dsarmor/dsarmo2/dsarmo232.htm
  4. ^ "ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЯ. Тема 8". Ido.edu.ru. Archived from the original on December 23, 2004. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  5. ^ ИТАР-ТАСС :: 60 ЛЕТ ВЕЛИКОЙ ПОБЕДЕ :: (in Russian). Victory.tass-online.ru. Retrieved 2008-10-26.[dead link]
  6. ^ Peppery furrow shell
  7. ^ "ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЯ. Тема 8". Ido.edu.ru. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  8. ^ Peppery furrow shell
  9. ^ https://sketchfab.com/models/bb0b6ee82c7b477db4b01a14bd793409