Template:About/doc
 | This template should not be used unless other topics exist with names very similar to the name of the article it is being used on (which, for most articles, is not the case). |
{{About}} is a commonly used hatnote template on Wikipedia, and should be placed at the top of an article, linking the reader to other articles with similar titles or concepts that they may have been seeking instead. The template has several formats, including:
{{About|USE1}}→{{About|USE1||PAGE2}}→{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2}}→{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|and|PAGE3}}→
Alternately, a section=yes parameter can be added to the {{About}} template for use at the top of a section. When using this parameter, the wording in the template changes to specify that it is being used in a section:
{{About|USE1|section=yes}}→{{About|USE1|PAGE2|section=yes}}→{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|section=yes}}→{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|and|PAGE3|section=yes}}→
For more options, find "{{About}}" in the text below.
For reference, see Wikipedia:hatnotes and documentation below.
Hatnote templates
Hatnotes must be at the very top of the page or section.
Generic hatnote
{{Hatnote|CUSTOM TEXT}}→
{{Hatnote|For other senses of this term, see [[etc…]]}}→
If a link in a hatnote points to a disambiguation page, the link should include "(disambiguation)", even if that is a redirect. This indicates that the disambiguation link is intentional, and not an error (see WP:INTDABLINK):
- Not {{hatnote|other uses|Springfield}}; but
- {{hatnote|other uses|Springfield (disambiguation)}}, or
- {{hatnote|other uses|Springfield (disambiguation)|Springfield}}
More pages on the same topic ("Further information ...")
"Main article: …"
{{Main}} is used to make summary style explicit, when used in a summary section for which there is also a separate article on the subject:
"For more details on …, see …"
{{Details}} can supplement {{Main}} in summary sections, or can indicate more details in nonsummary sections:
{{Details3}} allows changing the displayed name for links. Unlike {{Details}}, it requires bracketed link notation:
{{Details3|[[NTSC#Color_encoding|NTSC Color encoding]]}}→{{Details3|[[article 1|Article 1]], [[article 2|Article 2]], and [[article 3|Article 3]]|TOPIC}}→
"See also …"
{{See also|TOPIC PAGE|OTHER TOPIC PAGE}}→
- Note: use only when OTHER TOPIC PAGE is related to current article and contains a self-explanatory parenthetical.
{{See also2|[[OTHER TOPIC]]|[[OTHER TOPIC2]]|[[OTHER TOPIC3]] and other text}}→
"Further information: …"
{{Further|PAGE}}→{{Further|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3}}→{{Further2|[[PAGE1]], [[PAGE2]], and [[PAGE#3|PAGE3]]}}→
Other uses of the same title ("For …, see …")
"This page is about … For other uses …"
{{About}} is the main template for noting other uses.
Note. When used in main namespace, the word "page" in the following hatnotes is replaced by "article".
{{About|USE1}}→{{About|USE1||PAGE2}}(When the disambiguation page has a different name – Note the empty second parameter) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2}}(When there is only one other use) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|and|PAGE3}}(Two pages for USE2) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2#SUBSECTION{{!}}PAGE2TITLE}}(Using the {{!}} magic word to give the link a different title) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|USE4|PAGE4|USE5|PAGE5}}(When there are up to four other uses – You should generally create a disambiguation page at this point) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|other uses}}(When there are several standard other uses and also a disambiguation page with default name – Note that the last page name is not specified) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|other uses|PAGE4}}(When there are several standard other uses and also a disambiguation page with non-default name) →{{About|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|other uses|PAGE4|and}}→{{About||USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|other uses}}(When you don't need to state the focus of this article/page – Note the empty first parameter) →{{About|||PAGE1|and|PAGE2}}→
- Note:
{{for||PAGE1|PAGE2}}produces the same result.
{{About|USE1|section=yes}}→
- Note: this hatnote says "section", instead of "article" or "page".
"This page is about … It is not to be confused with …"
{{About-distinguish}} is a template for noting other uses when there could be confusion with another topic.
{{About-distinguish|USE1|PAGE1}}→{{About-distinguish2|USE1|TEXT}}→
"For …, see …"
{{For}} can be used instead of {{About}} so as not to display: This page is about USE1. but still specify a specific other use. This effect can also be achieved by using an empty first parameter in {{About}} as in:
- For example:
{{for|OTHER TOPIC|PAGE1}}is the same as{{About||OTHER TOPIC|PAGE1}}(note the empty first parameter).
However, it is somewhat clearer when using the {{For}} template, since the word "about" does not appear in the statement.
{{For|OTHER TOPIC}}→{{For|OTHER TOPIC|PAGE1}}→{{For|OTHER TOPIC|PAGE1|PAGE2}}→{{For|OTHER TOPIC|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3}}→{{For||PAGE1|PAGE2}}→ Error: no context parameter provided. Use {{other uses}} for "other uses" hatnotes. (help).
- Variations
- As with {{Other uses}}, there is a whole family of "for" templates. {{For2}} allows custom text, such as quotation marks or a link from part of the "CUSTOM TEXT"
{{For2|OTHER TOPIC|CUSTOM TEXT}}→
"For other uses, see …"
When such a wordy hatnote as {{About}} is not needed, {{Other uses}} is often useful.
{{Other uses}}→{{Other uses|PAGE1}}→{{Other uses|PAGE1|PAGE2}}→
- Variations
- There are, historically, a whole family of "other uses" templates for specific cases. {{About}} is the standard hatnote for "other uses" and many of them can be specified using the {{About}} template. However, the individual templates may be easier to use in certain contexts.
- Here are the variations and (when appropriate) the equivalents using the {{About}}, {{Other uses}} or {{For}} templates.
{{Other uses2|PAGE1}}→
- Note: adds "(disambiguation)" to whatever is input as the PAGE1.
- Note:
{{Other uses|PAGE1 (disambiguation)}}produces the same result.
{{Two other uses|USE1|USE2|PAGE2}}→
- Note: same as {{about}}, except it forces a second use to be noted if unspecified by parameters.
{{Two other uses|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3}}→{{Two other uses||USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3}}→{{Three other uses|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3}}{{Three other uses||USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3}}→{{Three other uses|USE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|USE4|PAGE4}}→
"For other uses of …, see …"
{{Other uses of}}→{{Other uses of|TOPIC}}→{{Other uses of|TOPIC|PAGE1}}→
"… redirects here. For other uses, see …"
{{Redirect|REDIRECT}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect|REDIRECT||PAGE1}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|and|PAGE2}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2|and|PAGE3}}→ Lua error in Module:Redirect_hatnote at line 104: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Redirect6|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1}}→{{Redirect6|REDIRECT|USE1|PAGE1||PAGE2}}→
- Variations
- For two sources:
{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2}}→{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE}}→{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2||PAGE1}}→{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE|PAGE1}}→{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2}}→{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3}}→{{Redirect2|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2|USE3|PAGE3|USE4|PAGE4}}→{{Redirect4|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2}}→{{Redirect4|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|USE|TEXT}}→
- For three sources:
{{Redirect7|"REDIRECT1", "REDIRECT2", and "REDIRECT3"|USE1|PAGE1|USE2|PAGE2}}→{{Redirect10|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|REDIRECT3}}→{{Redirect10|REDIRECT1|REDIRECT2|REDIRECT3|USE|TEXT}}→
- To specify the text following "redirects here.":
{{Redirect3|REDIRECT|TEXT}}or{{Redirect text|REDIRECT|TEXT}}→{{Redirect-synonym|TERM|OTHER TOPIC}}→
- ... Not to be confused with ...
{{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1}}→{{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3|PAGE4}}→{{Redirect-distinguish2|REDIRECT|TEXT}}→
Similar proper names ("For other people named ...")
Other people
{{Other people}}→{{Other people|NAME}}→{{Other people|NAME|PAGE}}→{{Other people|NAME|PAGE|named=titled}}→{{Other people2|PAGE}}→{{Other people3}}→
- Note: same as {{About}} except uses "other people" instead of "other uses" if only 1 parameter is used
{{Other people3|PERSON1}}→{{Other people3|PERSON1|PERSON2}}→{{Other people3|PERSON1|PERSON2|PAGE2}}→{{Other people3|PERSON1||PAGE2}}→{{Other people5|NAME1|NAME2|NAME3|NAME4}}→
- Note: defaults to "named" as in {{Other people}}, exists for options like "nicknamed", "known as", etc.
Other places
{{Other places}}, analogous to {{Other uses}} →{{Other places|PAGE}}, analogous to {{Other uses2}} →{{Other places3|PAGE}}, analogous to {{Other uses}} →
Other ships
For articles on ships:
{{Other ships|SHIP1}}→
Distinguish
"Not to be confused with …"
{{Distinguish|PAGE1}}→{{Distinguish|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3|PAGE4}}→{{Distinguish2|TEXT}}→{{Distinct|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3|PAGE4}}or{{Distinct|[[PAGE1]]|[[PAGE2]]|[[PAGE3]]|[[PAGE4]]}}→{{Distinct|TEXT [[PAGE1]]}}→
"… redirects here. It is not to be confused with …"
{{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1}}→{{Redirect-distinguish|REDIRECT|PAGE1|PAGE2|PAGE3|PAGE4}}→{{Redirect-distinguish2|REDIRECT|TEXT}}→- Also may be used as
{{Redirect-distinguish2|REDIRECT}}→
- Also may be used as
"For technical reasons, … redirects here. For … , see … ."
{{Technical reasons|REDIRECT}}→{{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|PAGE}}→{{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|DESCRIPTION|PAGE}}→{{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|DESCRIPTION1|PAGE1|DESCRIPTION2|PAGE2}}→{{Technical reasons|REDIRECT|DESCRIPTION1|PAGE1|DESCRIPTION2|PAGE2|DESCRIPTION3|PAGE3}}→
Family names
Miscellaneous (hurricanes, Pope Stephen, Wiki selfref)
These hatnotes are topic-specific. They are documented at their template page.
{{Other hurricanes}}{{Pope Stephen ToP Dab}}{{Selfref}}
Categories
Category-specific templates:
{{Category see also|THIS|THAT|THE OTHER}}→
This is a template for linking categories horizontally. Horizontal linkage is often the right solution when vertical linkage (i.e., as sub-category and parent category) is not appropriate. In most cases, this template should be used on both categories to create reciprocal linkage between the two categories.
{{Cat main|MAIN ARTICLE}}→ Lua error in Module:Cat_main at line 26: attempt to call field 'formatPages' (a nil value).{{Category explanation|colourless green ideas}}→{{Category pair|TOPIC1|TOPIC2}}→{{CatPreceding|OTHER TOPIC}}→{{CatSucceeding|OTHER TOPIC}}→{{Contrast|OTHERCAT|OTHERCAT2}}→{{Contrast|OTHERCAT|OTHERCAT2|plural=yes}}→
Lists
User pages
{{This user talk|TOPIC|PAGE1}}→
Notes
 | This template should not be substituted. Do not use subst: with these templates, as that will prevent:
|
These templates are used in thousands of articles; therefore, changing the syntax could break thousands of articles. If you wish to create or edit a disambiguation or redirection template, first ask yourself the following questions:
- Is there already a template that will do this job? Since many disambiguation and redirection templates have already been created, first check: Category:Disambiguation and redirection templates.
- Do I really need a new template for this? Will it likely be used on any other articles or should I just use {{Hatnote}} instead? Before creating a new template, see the template namespace guideline.
- If I change the parameters around on an existing template, do I know what the result will be? Will it break existing uses of the template and if so, can I fix all of the errors? Before making any changes, see Template sandbox and test cases.
See also
TemplateData
TemplateData for About
This template is a hatnote in the format "This page is about … For other uses …".
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page description | 1 | What the page this template is placed on is about ("This page is about …") | String | required |
| Other page 1 description | 2 | What the first other page is about. If unused or blank, defaults to "For other uses". | String | optional |
| Other page 1 title | 3 | The title of the first other page. If unused, defaults to "[page title] (disambiguation)". | String | optional |
| Other page 2 description | 4 | What the second other page is about. If unused or blank, defaults to "For other uses". | String | optional |
| Other page 2 title | 5 | The title of the second other page. If unused, defaults to "[page title] (disambiguation)". To add more other pages, continue with this alternating pattern using increasing numbers, starting with 6 for the next page description. | String | optional |