Help:Template parameters

Templates allow you to pass parameters that can be used to affect the content or design of the template.

Example of Simple Replacement

 * Create a page on your wiki called :


 * Add the following code to that page:




 * Save the page and note that it displays the following content:


 * 


 * Create an article page on your wiki called


 * Enter the following code on that page to display your template:




 * Save the page and note that it displays the following content:


 * example text

Understanding What Happened

 * This replacement happened because  tells the wiki to pass the first parameter of the template here. This can be extended with ,  , ad infinitum. The number represents the number of the parameter:




 * If you wish not to use a certain parameter, you can leave it blank, but the | must still be included. For example:



Example of Named and Default Parameters

 * As an alternative to the above, you can use named parameters. Though this makes the code slightly more complex, it allows more freedom in how templates are created.


 * Using the same example pages as above, edit Template:Box and replace the content with the following code:




 * introduces the concept of a named parameter.  also introduces the concept of a default parameter: if bgcolor is not defined, #666 will be passed.


 * Edit the page "Template Testing" and replace it with the following code:


 * Save your page, and note that it displays the following:


 * A navy blue box

Understanding What Happened

 * As the parameters have names, you can pass them in any order, so  would produce an identical box.


 * Due to default parameters, if, say, the background color was not defined - as in  - you would get:


 * A navy blue box