Help:Searching: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:36, 9 December 2024

Help:Searching

Searching is a fundamental feature of any mediawiki-based platform, allowing users to find specific content within the vast array of articles and pages. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively use the search functionality in MediaWiki, including tips and tricks for advanced searching.

Overview[edit]

The search feature in MediaWiki is designed to help users locate information quickly and efficiently. It is accessible from the search box, typically located at the top right corner of the page. Users can enter keywords or phrases to find relevant articles.

Basic Searching[edit]

To perform a basic search, simply type the desired keyword or phrase into the search box and press Enter. MediaWiki will return a list of pages that match the search terms. The search results are ranked based on relevance, with the most relevant pages appearing at the top.

Search Suggestions[edit]

As you type in the search box, MediaWiki may provide search suggestions. These are based on popular searches and existing page titles, helping you to quickly find what you are looking for.

Advanced Searching[edit]

For more precise results, MediaWiki offers advanced search options. These can be accessed by clicking on the "Advanced" link next to the search box.

Boolean Operators[edit]

MediaWiki supports the use of Boolean operators to refine search queries:

AND: Use this to find pages containing all specified terms. For example, `heart AND lung` will return pages that include both terms.
OR: Use this to find pages containing any of the specified terms. For example, `heart OR lung` will return pages that include either term.
NOT: Use this to exclude pages containing a specific term. For example, `heart NOT lung` will return pages that include "heart" but not "lung".

Wildcards[edit]

Wildcards can be used to search for variations of a word:

Asterisk (*): Represents any number of characters. For example, `cardi*` will match "cardiology", "cardiovascular", etc.
Question mark (?): Represents a single character. For example, `wom?n` will match "woman" and "women".

Search Filters[edit]

MediaWiki allows users to filter search results by namespace, category, and other criteria. This is particularly useful in large wikis with diverse content.

Namespace Filtering[edit]

Namespaces are used to organize content in MediaWiki. By default, searches are conducted in the main namespace, but users can specify other namespaces to include or exclude.

Category Filtering[edit]

Users can filter search results by category to find pages that belong to specific groups. This is done by adding `incategory:"CategoryName"` to the search query.

Search Preferences[edit]

Users can customize their search experience by adjusting preferences in their user settings. Options include setting default namespaces for searches and enabling or disabling search suggestions.

Troubleshooting[edit]

If you encounter issues with searching, consider the following tips:

Ensure correct spelling of search terms.
Use different keywords or synonyms.
Check if the page exists under a different title.

Also see[edit]

For help with this template, please post a comment on the template talk page with a {{reply to}} one or more of the == History of Searching ==

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Magnifying_glass_01.svg|thumb|Magnifying_glass_01]] [[file:Search_box_monobook.PNG|right|thumb|Search_box_monobook]] [[file:Search_box_vector.PNG|right|thumb|Search_box_vector]] [[file:Search_page.PNG|thumb|Search_page]] [[file:"_namespace_has_been_selected._You_can_prepend_search_terms_with_"local:"_to_limit_results_to_locally_uploaded_files.|thumb|"_namespace_has_been_selected._You_can_prepend_search_terms_with_"local:"_to_limit_results_to_locally_uploaded_files.]] [[file:Wiki_search_namespaces.png|thumb|Wiki_search_namespaces]] {{Short description|Guide on how to search within MediaWiki}}
+[[File:Magnifying glass 01.svg|thumb]] [[File:Search box vector.PNG|thumb]] [[File:Search box monobook.PNG|thumb]] [[File:Search page.PNG|thumb]] Help:Searching
-{{Help page}}
-'''Help:Searching''' is a guide to assist users in effectively utilizing the search functionality within [[MediaWiki]]-based websites. This guide covers the basics of searching, advanced search options, and tips for refining search results.
+Searching is a fundamental feature of any mediawiki-based platform, allowing users to find specific content within the vast array of articles and pages. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively use the search functionality in MediaWiki, including tips and tricks for advanced searching.
+== Overview ==
+The search feature in MediaWiki is designed to help users locate information quickly and efficiently. It is accessible from the search box, typically located at the top right corner of the page. Users can enter keywords or phrases to find relevant articles.
 == Basic Searching ==
-To perform a basic search, enter your query into the search box typically located at the top right corner of the page. Press "Enter" or click the search icon to view the results. The search engine will return a list of pages that contain the terms you entered.
+To perform a basic search, simply type the desired keyword or phrase into the search box and press Enter. MediaWiki will return a list of pages that match the search terms. The search results are ranked based on relevance, with the most relevant pages appearing at the top.
+=== Search Suggestions ===
+As you type in the search box, MediaWiki may provide search suggestions. These are based on popular searches and existing page titles, helping you to quickly find what you are looking for.
 == Advanced Searching ==
-MediaWiki offers several advanced search options to help users find more specific information:
-* '''Prefix search''': Use the "prefix:" keyword to limit the search to pages that start with a specific prefix. For example, "prefix:Help" will return pages that start with "Help".
+For more precise results, MediaWiki offers advanced search options. These can be accessed by clicking on the "Advanced" link next to the search box.
-* '''Exact phrase''': Enclose your search terms in double quotes to search for an exact phrase. For example, searching for "exact phrase" will return pages containing that exact sequence of words.
-* '''Excluding terms''': Use a minus sign (-) before a word to exclude pages containing that word. For example, "search -term" will return pages that contain "search" but not "term".
+=== Boolean Operators ===
-* '''Wildcard search''': Use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard to represent any number of characters. For example, "search*" will return pages containing words that start with "search".
+MediaWiki supports the use of Boolean operators to refine search queries:
+* '''AND''': Use this to find pages containing all specified terms. For example, `heart AND lung` will return pages that include both terms.
+* '''OR''': Use this to find pages containing any of the specified terms. For example, `heart OR lung` will return pages that include either term.
+* '''NOT''': Use this to exclude pages containing a specific term. For example, `heart NOT lung` will return pages that include "heart" but not "lung".
+=== Wildcards ===
+Wildcards can be used to search for variations of a word:
+* '''Asterisk (*)''': Represents any number of characters. For example, `cardi*` will match "cardiology", "cardiovascular", etc.
+* '''Question mark (?)''': Represents a single character. For example, `wom?n` will match "woman" and "women".
 == Search Filters ==
-MediaWiki allows users to filter search results by namespace. This can be particularly useful when looking for specific types of content, such as [[Help:Namespace|Help pages]], [[Template:Template|Templates]], or [[Category:Category|Categories]].
-== Search Tips ==
+MediaWiki allows users to filter search results by namespace, category, and other criteria. This is particularly useful in large wikis with diverse content.
-* Use specific and relevant keywords to improve the accuracy of your search results.
-* Check the spelling of your search terms to ensure they are correct.
-* Use advanced search options to narrow down your results.
-* Explore related pages and links to find additional information.
-== Related Pages ==
+=== Namespace Filtering ===
+Namespaces are used to organize content in MediaWiki. By default, searches are conducted in the main namespace, but users can specify other namespaces to include or exclude.
+=== Category Filtering ===
+Users can filter search results by category to find pages that belong to specific groups. This is done by adding `incategory:"CategoryName"` to the search query.
+== Search Preferences ==
+Users can customize their search experience by adjusting preferences in their user settings. Options include setting default namespaces for searches and enabling or disabling search suggestions.
+== Troubleshooting ==
+If you encounter issues with searching, consider the following tips:
+* Ensure correct spelling of search terms.
+* Use different keywords or synonyms.
+* Check if the page exists under a different title.
+== Also see ==
+* [[Help:Navigation]]
 * [[Help:Contents]]
-* [[Help:Navigation]]
+* [[Help:Categories]]
 * [[Help:Namespaces]]
-* [[Help:Categories]]
-* [[Help:Templates]]
-[[Category:MediaWiki help]]
+{{Help}}
-[[Category:Search]]
-{{Help navigation}}
+[[Category:MediaWiki Help]]
-{{medicine-stub}}