Help:Infobox
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.
Purpose and Usage
Infoboxes serve several purposes:
- 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 templates, which are pre-defined structures that can be reused across multiple articles. This ensures consistency and reduces the need for repetitive coding.
Structure of an Infobox
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.
Common Fields
While the specific fields in an infobox depend on the subject, some common fields include:
- Name: The name of the subject.
- 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
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 `` template, an editor might write:
```wikitext
```
This code will render an infobox with the specified information about John Doe.
Customizing Infoboxes
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.
Best Practices
When using infoboxes, editors should adhere to the following best practices:
- Accuracy: Ensure that all information in the infobox is accurate and verifiable.
- Relevance: Only include information that is relevant to the subject of the article.
- Consistency: Use the same infobox template for similar articles to maintain consistency.
