Help:Infobox
Help: 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
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
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
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
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, 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.
See Also
References
External Links
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