Help:Infobox: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:44, 30 December 2024

Help: Infobox

Example of an infobox

An infobox is a template used on Wikipedia and other MediaWiki-based projects to present a summary of information about the subject of an article. Infoboxes are typically placed at the top right of an article, in the lead section, and are used to provide a quick overview of key facts and data.

Purpose[edit]

The primary purpose of an infobox is to summarize key points about the subject of an article in a consistent and visually appealing manner. This helps readers quickly grasp essential information without having to read the entire article. Infoboxes are particularly useful for articles about people, places, organizations, and other subjects where structured data can be presented.

Structure[edit]

Infoboxes are created using MediaWiki templates, which allow for the consistent presentation of information across multiple articles. A typical infobox template will include parameters for various pieces of information, such as:

Name
Image
Caption
Birth date
Occupation
Known for

These parameters can be filled in with relevant data for each specific article.

Usage[edit]

To use an infobox in a MediaWiki article, you need to include the appropriate template at the beginning of the article's source code. For example, to use a person infobox, you might include the following code:

{{Infobox person
| name = John Doe
| image = <!-- Image removed -->
| caption = John Doe in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|1|1}}
| occupation = [[Physician]]
| known_for = [[Medical research]]
}}

This code will generate an infobox with the specified information about John Doe.

Customization[edit]

Infobox templates can be customized to suit the needs of different types of articles. For example, an infobox for a city might include parameters for population, area, and mayor, while an infobox for a book might include parameters for author, genre, and publication date.

Best Practices[edit]

When using infoboxes, it is important to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date. Infoboxes should complement the main text of the article, not replace it. Additionally, editors should avoid adding excessive detail to infoboxes, as this can make them cluttered and difficult to read.

References[edit]

External Links[edit]

MediaWiki Help: Templates

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-[[File:Lundehund.png|thumb]] [[File: before the image name (or you didn't, and it's one of the templates that requires it).|thumb]] Help:Infobox
-An '''infobox''' is a template used on Wikipedia and other MediaWiki-based projects to present a consistent summary of information for articles. Infoboxes are typically found at the top right corner of an article and are designed to provide a quick overview of the most important facts about the subject of the article.
+{{Infobox
+| name = Infobox
-== Purpose and Usage ==
+| title = Help: Infobox
-Infoboxes serve several purposes:
+| image = <!-- Image removed -->
+| caption = Example of an infobox
-* '''Standardization''': They provide a standardized format for presenting key information, making it easier for readers to find and compare data across different articles.
+}}
-* '''Summarization''': Infoboxes summarize complex information into a concise format, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essential details.
-* '''Navigation''': They often include links to related articles, facilitating navigation within Wikipedia.
-Infoboxes are created using [[Help:Templates|templates]], which are pre-defined structures that can be reused across multiple articles. This ensures consistency and reduces the need for repetitive coding.
+An '''infobox''' is a template used on [[Wikipedia]] and other [[MediaWiki]]-based projects to present a summary of information about the subject of an article. Infoboxes are typically placed at the top right of an article, in the lead section, and are used to provide a quick overview of key facts and data.
-== Structure of an Infobox ==
+== Purpose ==
-An infobox is typically structured as a table, with each row representing a different piece of information. The left column usually contains labels, while the right column contains the corresponding data. The structure of an infobox is defined by its template, which specifies the fields that can be filled in.
+The primary purpose of an infobox is to summarize key points about the subject of an article in a consistent and visually appealing manner. This helps readers quickly grasp essential information without having to read the entire article. Infoboxes are particularly useful for articles about [[people]], [[places]], [[organizations]], and other subjects where structured data can be presented.
-=== Common Fields ===
+== Structure ==
-While the specific fields in an infobox depend on the subject, some common fields include:
+Infoboxes are created using [[MediaWiki templates]], which allow for the consistent presentation of information across multiple articles. A typical infobox template will include parameters for various pieces of information, such as:
+* Name
+* Image
+* Caption
+* Birth date
+* Occupation
+* Known for
-* '''Name''': The name of the subject.
+These parameters can be filled in with relevant data for each specific article.
-* '''Image''': A representative image of the subject.
-* '''Caption''': A brief description of the image.
-* '''Date''': Relevant dates, such as birth or founding dates.
-* '''Location''': Geographical location or place of significance.
-* '''Key figures''': Important people associated with the subject.
-== Creating an Infobox ==
+== Usage ==
-To create an infobox, editors use a template by including it in the article with the appropriate parameters filled in. For example, to use the `{{Infobox person}}` template, an editor might write:
+To use an infobox in a MediaWiki article, you need to include the appropriate template at the beginning of the article's source code. For example, to use a person infobox, you might include the following code:
-```wikitext
+<pre>
 {{Infobox person
 | name = John Doe
-| image = JohnDoe.jpg
+| image = <!-- Image removed -->
 | caption = John Doe in 2023
-| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|1|1}}
+| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|1|1}}
-| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York]]
 | occupation = [[Physician]]
+| known_for = [[Medical research]]
 }}
-```
+</pre>
-This code will render an infobox with the specified information about John Doe.
+This code will generate an infobox with the specified information about John Doe.
-== Customizing Infoboxes ==
+== Customization ==
-Infobox templates can be customized to fit the needs of specific articles. Editors can add or remove fields, change labels, and adjust formatting. However, it is important to maintain consistency with similar articles to ensure a uniform appearance across Wikipedia.
+Infobox templates can be customized to suit the needs of different types of articles. For example, an infobox for a [[city]] might include parameters for population, area, and mayor, while an infobox for a [[book]] might include parameters for author, genre, and publication date.
 == Best Practices ==
-When using infoboxes, editors should adhere to the following best practices:
+When using infoboxes, it is important to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date. Infoboxes should complement the main text of the article, not replace it. Additionally, editors should avoid adding excessive detail to infoboxes, as this can make them cluttered and difficult to read.
-* '''Accuracy''': Ensure that all information in the infobox is accurate and verifiable.
+== See Also ==
-* '''Relevance''': Only include information that is relevant to the subject of the article.
+* [[Template:Infobox]]
-* '''Consistency''': Use the same infobox template for similar articles to maintain consistency.
+* [[Help:Template]]
+* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Infoboxes]]
-== Also see ==
+== References ==
-* [[Help:Template]]
+<references />
-* [[Help:Table]]
-* [[Help:Editing]]
-* [[Help:Wiki markup]]
-{{Wikipedia help pages}}
+== External Links ==
+* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Templates MediaWiki Help: Templates]
+[[Category:MediaWiki templates]]
 [[Category:Wikipedia help]]
+[[Category:Infobox templates]]
+```