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{{tocright}}A '''namespace''' is a way of separating types of content on a wiki; groups of pages with similar purposes can be grouped together, and can be searched and listed separately from each other. Each page belongs to exactly one namespace.
{{tocright}}
 
   
 
The namespace of a page is indicated by the word preceding the colon in the page title. For example, "Talk:Pagename" is a page in the "talk" namespace, and is used to describe a page called ''pagename''. If there is no prefix (or the prefix does not match an existing namespace) the page belongs to the "Main" or "article" namespace of that wiki.
A '''namespace''' is a way of separating types of content in a wiki; groups of pages with similar purposes can be grouped together, and can be searched and listed separately from each other. Each page belongs to exactly one namespace.
 
   
 
[[Help:Custom namespaces|Custom namespaces]] can be created on a wiki if the standard ones do not meet the needs of that community's project.
The namespace of a page is indicated by the word preceding the colon in the page title. For example, "Talk:Pagename" is a page in the "talk" namespace, and is used to describe a page called ''pagename''. If there is no prefix (or the prefix does not match an existing namespace) the page belongs to the "Main" or "article" namespace of that wiki.
 
 
[[Help:Custom namespaces|Custom namespaces]] can be created in a wiki if the standard ones do not meet the needs of that Wikia project.
 
   
 
Namespaces are used for the following reasons:
 
Namespaces are used for the following reasons:
 
* Allow separation of wiki content from help and policy pages ''about'' the creation of content;
 
* Allow separation of different kinds of unrelated content;
 
* Allow control of which content is indexed by search engines;
 
* Provide some special features related to the namespace's intended purpose;
 
* Provide facilities to limit searches to a particular area;
 
* Allow easy exporting.
   
 
== What namespaces do all communities have? ==
* allow separation of wiki content from help and policy pages ''about'' the creation of content;
 
* allow separation of different kinds of unrelated content;
 
* allow control of which content is indexed by search engines;
 
* provide some special features related to the namespace's intended purpose;
 
* provide facilities to limit searches to a particular area;
 
* allow easy exporting.
 
 
==What namespaces do all wikis have?==
 
 
 
By default, every wiki has 18 namespaces, and 2 special namespaces. [[Help:Custom namespaces|Custom namespaces]] can also be created.
 
By default, every wiki has 18 namespaces, and 2 special namespaces. [[Help:Custom namespaces|Custom namespaces]] can also be created.
   
{| border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
+
{| class="article-table" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
 
|-
 
|-
| style="width:10em;" |'''Namespace Code'''
+
!Namespace Code
| style="width:17em;" |'''Namespace Name'''
+
!Namespace Name
  +
!Notes
| |'''Notes'''
 
 
|-
 
|-
| <nowiki>{{ns:Media}}</nowiki>
+
| <code><nowiki>{{ns:-2}}</nowiki></code>
| {{ns:Media}}
+
|{{ns:-2}}
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:Special}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:-1}}</nowiki></code>
|{{ns:Special}}
+
|{{ns:-1}}
  +
|Special pages on your wiki
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:0}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:0}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Main
|
 
 
|Main namespace for regular wiki articles
 
|Main namespace for regular wiki articles
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:1}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:1}}</nowiki></code>
|{{ns:1}}
+
|{{ns:1}}
 
|[[Help:Talk pages|Discussion pages]] for regular wiki articles
 
|[[Help:Talk pages|Discussion pages]] for regular wiki articles
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:2}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:2}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:2}}
 
|{{ns:2}}
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:3}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:3}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:3}}
 
|{{ns:3}}
 
|
 
|- valign="top"
 
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:4}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Project<br />("{{ns:4}}")
 
|Uses the wiki's [[Help:Sitename|sitename]]
 
|- valign="top"
 
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:5}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Project talk<br />("{{ns:5}}")
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
| valign="top" |<nowiki>{{ns:4}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:6}}</nowiki></code>
| valign="top" |Project
 
(on this wiki, "{{ns:4}}")
 
| valign="top" |Uses the wiki's [[Help:Sitename|sitename]]
 
|-
 
| valign="top" |<nowiki>{{ns:5}}</nowiki>
 
| valign="top" |Project talk
 
(on this wiki, "{{ns:5}}")
 
| valign="top" |
 
|-
 
|<nowiki>{{ns:6}}</nowiki>
 
 
|{{ns:6}}
 
|{{ns:6}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:7}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:7}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:7}}
 
|{{ns:7}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:8}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:8}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:8}}
 
|{{ns:8}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:9}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:9}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:9}}
 
|{{ns:9}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:10}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:10}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:10}}
 
|{{ns:10}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:11}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:11}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:11}}
 
|{{ns:11}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:12}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:12}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:12}}
 
|{{ns:12}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:13}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:13}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:13}}
 
|{{ns:13}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:14}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:14}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:14}}
 
|{{ns:14}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:15}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:15}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:15}}
 
|{{ns:15}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:110}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:110}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:110}}
 
|{{ns:110}}
 
| See [[Help:Wiki-style forums]]
 
| See [[Help:Wiki-style forums]]
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:111}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:111}}</nowiki></code>
 
|{{ns:111}}
 
|{{ns:111}}
  +
|
 
 
|}
 
|}
   
  +
An API query can be used to list all namespaces on a community, including custom namespaces. To do so, replace 'NAME' in the following URL with your community's:
==Namespaces added by default extensions==
 
  +
* <code><nowiki>https://NAME.fandom.com/api.php?action=query&meta=siteinfo&siprop=namespaces|namespacealiases</nowiki></code>
  +
For example, [https://community.fandom.com/api.php?action=query&meta=siteinfo&siprop=namespaces%7Cnamespacealiases Community Central's list].
   
 
== Namespaces added by default extensions ==
{| border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
+
{| class="article-table" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
 
|-
 
|-
  +
!Namespace Code
| style="width:10em;" |'''NS Code'''
 
  +
!Namespace Name
| style="width:17em;" |'''NS Name'''
 
  +
!Notes
| |'''Notes'''
 
 
|-
 
|-
| <nowiki>{{ns:400}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:400}}</nowiki></code>
 
| {{ns:400}}
 
| {{ns:400}}
| See [[Help:Video Embed Tool]]
+
| See [[Help:Video embed tool]]
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:401}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:401}}</nowiki></code>
|{{ns:401}}
+
| {{ns:401}}
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:500}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:420}}</nowiki></code>
  +
| {{ns:420}}
  +
| See [[Help:Maps Extension]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:421}}</nowiki></code>
  +
| {{ns:421}}
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:500}}</nowiki></code>
 
|User blog
 
|User blog
| See [[Help:Blog article]]
+
| See [[Help:Blogs]]
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:501}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:501}}</nowiki></code>
 
|User blog comments
 
|User blog comments
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:502}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:502}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|[{{fullurle:homepage:w:Special:Allpages|namespace=502}} {{ns:502}}]
|Blog
 
  +
|
 
|-
 
|-
|<nowiki>{{ns:503}}</nowiki>
+
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:503}}</nowiki></code>
 
|Blog talk
 
|Blog talk
  +
|
 
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:828}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|{{ns:828}}
  +
|See [[Help:Lua]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:829}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|{{ns:829}}
  +
|
  +
|-
  +
|nowrap|<code><nowiki>{{ns:1100}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Related Videos
  +
|See [[Help:Videos module]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:1200}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Message Wall
  +
|See [[Help:Message Wall]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:1201}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Thread
  +
|Used by both Message Wall and Forums
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:1202}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Message Wall Greeting
  +
|See [[Help:Message Wall]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:2000}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Board
  +
|See [[Help:Forum]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:2001}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Board Thread
  +
|See [[Help:Forum]]
  +
|-
  +
|<code><nowiki>{{ns:2002}}</nowiki></code>
  +
|Topic
  +
|See [[Help:Forum]]
 
|}
 
|}
<!--note to anyone editing this later, the blog system is disabled at help.wikia, so things like {{ns:500}} wont work, and thus dont show up at the local wiki either because of the way the parser cache works with shared help.-->
 
   
==What are the basic namespaces?==
+
== What are the basic namespaces? ==
  +
[[File:AllPagesNamespace.png|thumb|You can see a list of all the namespaces on your wiki by going to [[:Special:AllPages]] and clicking the dropdown menu next to "Namespace"]]
The '''Main''' namespace or article namespace (i.e., '''ns:0''') is the informational content of the wiki. In Wikipedia, this would be the encyclopedia article. It is the default namespace and does not use a prefix. Only the Main namespace is indexed by public search engines such as Google or Bing.
+
The '''Main''' or '''article''' namespace (<code><nowiki>{{ns:0}}</nowiki></code>) is the informational content of the wiki. In Wikipedia, this would be an encyclopedia article. It is the default namespace and does not use a prefix. Only the Main namespace is indexed by public search engines such as Google or Bing.
   
The '''Project''' namespace has the prefix of the [[Help:Title for the wiki|title of your wiki]] (the same title displayed in the <nowiki>{{SITENAME}}</nowiki> variable). On some wikis, this namespace is used for policies and guidelines, deletion discussions, requests for adminship, and other behind-the-scenes details; other wikis use it for other purposes, or don't use it at all. You can use the prefix "Project:" if you do not know the real prefix to use. This will be converted automatically. For example, on the Help wiki, {{#ifexist:Project:Administrators|[[Project:Administrators]]|[[Project:Administrators]]}} will link to the same page that [[Wikia Help:Administrators]] does.
+
<span id="Project"></span>The '''Project''' namespace's prefix is the [[Help:Sitename|title of your wiki]] (the same title displayed in the <code><nowiki>{{SITENAME}}</nowiki></code> variable). On some wikis, this namespace is used for policies and guidelines, deletion discussions, requests for administratorship, and other behind-the-scenes details; other wikis use it for other purposes, or don't use it at all. If you don't know the name of the wiki (or just don't want to bother to type it,) you can use the shortcut, "Project:" as a substitute. This will be converted automatically to the real name of the wiki. For example, on the Community Central wiki, {{#ifexist:Project:Admins and mods|[[Project:Admins and mods]]|<nowiki>[[Project:Admins and mods]]</nowiki>}} will link to the same page that [[w:c:c:Community Central:Admins and mods|Community Central:Admins and mods]] does.
   
The '''User''' namespace has the prefix ''User:'' and is used for information about users of the wiki. A user has a main [[Help:user page|user page]] and possibly some subpages. The main user page is linked from page histories and from recent changes. A user page has links to a user's talk page and contributions. Clicking on the avatar/user icon at the top will show a link which allows you to e-mail the user if they have checked "Enable e-mail from other users" in their preferences.
+
<span id="User"></span>The '''User''' namespace has the prefix ''User:'' and is used for information about users of the wiki. A user has a main [[Help:user page|user page]] and possibly some [[mw:Help:Subpages|sub-pages]]. The main user page is linked from page histories and from recent changes. A user page has links to a user's talk page and contributions.
   
The '''File''' namespace is prefixed with ''File:''. Pages in this namespace are also called ''[[Help:Image description page|image description pages]]''. They are used for information about images or other files. Every image uploaded will show the information given in the upload summary on the image description page. (note: the previous prefix <tt>Image:</tt> will continue to work)
+
<span id="File"></span>The '''File''' namespace is prefixed with ''File:''. Pages in this namespace are also called ''[[Help:Image description page|image description pages]]''. They are used for information about images or other files. Every image uploaded will show the information given in the upload summary on the image description page. (note: the previous prefix <tt>Image:</tt> will continue to work)
   
The '''MediaWiki''' namespace (prefix ''MediaWiki:'') contains interface texts such as link labels and messages. These are only editable by [[Help:user access levels|admins]]. An automatically generated list of all interface messages is at [[Special:Allmessages]]. See [[Help:MediaWiki namespace]].
+
<span id="MediaWiki"></span>The '''MediaWiki''' namespace (prefix ''MediaWiki:'') contains behind-the-scenes code and messages such as link labels and color schemes. These are only editable by a wiki's [[Help:user access levels|administrators]]. An automatically generated list of all interface messages can be found at [[Special:Allmessages]]. See [[Help:System messages]] for more.
   
The '''Template''' namespace can be used for small standard texts which need to be inserted on a number of pages; see [[Help:Templates]].
+
<span id="Template"></span>The '''Template''' namespace can be used for small standard texts which need to be inserted on a number of pages. Templates can be things like [[Help:Infobox|infoboxes]] or items in a list. They can be inserted with <code><nowiki>{{</nowiki>Template name<nowiki>}}</nowiki></code>; see [[Help:Templates]] for a more in-depth description.
   
The '''Category''' namespace contains categories of pages, with each displaying a list of pages in that category and optional additional text; see [[Help:Category]].
+
<span id="Category"></span>The '''Category''' namespace contains categories of pages, with each displaying a list of pages in that category and optional additional text; see [[Help:Category]].
   
The '''Help''' namespace is for help pages. The [[Help:Shared_Help|Shared Help system]] automatically provides pages from Help Wikia to each individual wiki, but projects can add their own notes about local practices above the shared text, and add new help pages that are unique to their projects in this namespace.
+
<span id="Help"></span>The '''Help''' namespace is for help pages. The [[Help:Shared_Help|Shared Help system]] automatically provides pages from Fandom Help to each individual wiki, but projects can add their own notes about local practices above the shared text, and add new help pages that are unique to their projects in this namespace.
   
The '''Forum''' namespace can be used for threaded forum messages; see [[Help:Wiki-style forums|Help:Forums]]
+
<span id="Forum"></span>The '''Forum''' namespace can be used for threaded forum messages. These are normally conversations and questions for the entire wiki to contribute in. See [[Help:Wiki-style forums]]. ''Note: It is suggested to now use the [[Help:Forum|Forum]] tool or [[Help:Discussions|Discussions]] instead.''
   
==What are the talk namespaces?==
+
== What are the talk namespaces? ==
Except for special pages, each namespace has an associated talk namespace. The talk namespaces are designated by adding ''talk:'' to the normal prefix. For example, the talk namespace associated with the unprefixed main article namespace has the prefix ''Talk:'', while the talk namespace associated with the ''User:'' namespace has the prefix ''User talk:''. Most of the pages in the talk namespaces are used to discuss changes to the corresponding page in the associated namespace.
+
Except for special pages, each namespace has an associated talk namespace. The talk namespaces are designated by adding ''talk:'' to the normal prefix. For example, the talk namespace associated with the unprefixed main article namespace has the prefix ''Talk:'', while the talk namespace associated with the ''User:'' namespace has the prefix ''User talk:''. Most of the pages in the talk namespaces are used to discuss changes to the corresponding page in the associated namespace.
   
 
Pages in the ''user talk namespace'' are useful for leaving messages for a particular user, since they will get automatic notification of any messages left there; see [[Help:User page]].
 
Pages in the ''user talk namespace'' are useful for leaving messages for a particular user, since they will get automatic notification of any messages left there; see [[Help:User page]].
   
==What are virtual namespaces?==
+
== What are virtual namespaces? ==
 
There are two virtual namespaces that do not relate to pages stored in the database.
 
There are two virtual namespaces that do not relate to pages stored in the database.
   
 
'''Special''' pages, or the special namespace, are automatically generated and uneditable pages, such as [[Special:RecentChanges]] or [[Special:UserLogin]]. They're vital to the MediaWiki software.
 
'''Special''' pages, or the special namespace, are automatically generated and uneditable pages, such as [[Special:RecentChanges]] or [[Special:UserLogin]]. They're vital to the MediaWiki software.
   
The '''Media''' prefix can be used to link directly to an image or sound clip, in the form <nowiki>[[Media:Image.jpg]] or [[Media:Sound.ogg]]</nowiki>, rather than linking to the image description page.
+
The '''Media''' prefix can be used to link directly to an image or sound clip, in the form <code><nowiki>[[Media:Image.jpg]]</nowiki></code> or <code><nowiki>[[Media:Sound.ogg]]</nowiki></code>, rather than linking to the image description page.
   
==See also==
+
== See also ==
* [[mw:Help:Namespace]], from which this page was derived.
+
* [[mw:Help:Namespace]] - The base MediaWiki documentation on namespaces.
* [[Help:Custom namespaces]]
+
* [[Help:Custom namespaces]] - Information on how to add an additional namespace to your wiki.
  +
* [[Help:WikiActivity tag]] - on how to show recent activity using specific namespaces.
   
  +
== Further help and feedback ==
[[de:Hilfe:Namensräume]]
+
{{Help and feedback section}}[[de:Hilfe:Namensräume]]
[[pt:Ajuda:Espaço nominal]]
 
  +
[[es:Ayuda:Espacio de nombres]]
[[Category:Help|{{PAGENAME}}]]
 
  +
[[fi:Ohje:Nimiavaruus]]
[[Category:Out of date help]]
 
  +
[[fr:Aide:Espace de noms]]
[[Category:Administration help|{{PAGENAME}}]]
 
  +
[[it:Aiuto:Namespace]]
  +
[[ja:ヘルプ:名前空間]]
  +
[[nl:Help:Naamruimte]]
  +
[[pl:Pomoc:Przestrzeń nazw]]
 
[[pt:Ajuda:Namespace]]
  +
[[ru:Справка:Пространства имён]]
  +
[[tr:Yardım:Ad alanı]]
  +
[[uk:Довідка:Простори назв]]
  +
[[vi:Trợ giúp:Không gian tên]]
  +
[[zh:Help:命名空間]]
 
[[Category:Help]]
 
[[Category:Administration help]]

Revision as of 07:05, 1 December 2019

A namespace is a way of separating types of content on a wiki; groups of pages with similar purposes can be grouped together, and can be searched and listed separately from each other. Each page belongs to exactly one namespace.

The namespace of a page is indicated by the word preceding the colon in the page title. For example, "Talk:Pagename" is a page in the "talk" namespace, and is used to describe a page called pagename. If there is no prefix (or the prefix does not match an existing namespace) the page belongs to the "Main" or "article" namespace of that wiki.

Custom namespaces can be created on a wiki if the standard ones do not meet the needs of that community's project.

Namespaces are used for the following reasons:

  • Allow separation of wiki content from help and policy pages about the creation of content;
  • Allow separation of different kinds of unrelated content;
  • Allow control of which content is indexed by search engines;
  • Provide some special features related to the namespace's intended purpose;
  • Provide facilities to limit searches to a particular area;
  • Allow easy exporting.

What namespaces do all communities have?

By default, every wiki has 18 namespaces, and 2 special namespaces. Custom namespaces can also be created.

Namespace Code Namespace Name Notes
{{ns:-2}} Media
{{ns:-1}} Special Special pages on your wiki
{{ns:0}} Main Main namespace for regular wiki articles
{{ns:1}} Talk Discussion pages for regular wiki articles
{{ns:2}} User
{{ns:3}} User talk
{{ns:4}} Project
("Community Central")
Uses the wiki's sitename
{{ns:5}} Project talk
("Community Central talk")
{{ns:6}} File
{{ns:7}} File talk
{{ns:8}} MediaWiki
{{ns:9}} MediaWiki talk
{{ns:10}} Template
{{ns:11}} Template talk
{{ns:12}} Help
{{ns:13}} Help talk
{{ns:14}} Category
{{ns:15}} Category talk
{{ns:110}} Forum See Help:Wiki-style forums
{{ns:111}} Forum talk

An API query can be used to list all namespaces on a community, including custom namespaces. To do so, replace 'NAME' in the following URL with your community's:

  • https://NAME.fandom.com/api.php?action=query&meta=siteinfo&siprop=namespaces|namespacealiases

For example, Community Central's list.

Namespaces added by default extensions

Namespace Code Namespace Name Notes
{{ns:400}} See Help:Video embed tool
{{ns:401}}
{{ns:420}} GeoJson See Help:Maps Extension
{{ns:421}} GeoJson talk
{{ns:500}} User blog See Help:Blogs
{{ns:501}} User blog comments
{{ns:502}} Blog
{{ns:503}} Blog talk
{{ns:828}} Module See Help:Lua
{{ns:829}} Module talk
{{ns:1100}} Related Videos See Help:Videos module
{{ns:1200}} Message Wall See Help:Message Wall
{{ns:1201}} Thread Used by both Message Wall and Forums
{{ns:1202}} Message Wall Greeting See Help:Message Wall
{{ns:2000}} Board See Help:Forum
{{ns:2001}} Board Thread See Help:Forum
{{ns:2002}} Topic See Help:Forum

What are the basic namespaces?

AllPagesNamespace

You can see a list of all the namespaces on your wiki by going to Special:AllPages and clicking the dropdown menu next to "Namespace"

The Main or article namespace ({{ns:0}}) is the informational content of the wiki. In Wikipedia, this would be an encyclopedia article. It is the default namespace and does not use a prefix. Only the Main namespace is indexed by public search engines such as Google or Bing.

The Project namespace's prefix is the title of your wiki (the same title displayed in the {{SITENAME}} variable). On some wikis, this namespace is used for policies and guidelines, deletion discussions, requests for administratorship, and other behind-the-scenes details; other wikis use it for other purposes, or don't use it at all. If you don't know the name of the wiki (or just don't want to bother to type it,) you can use the shortcut, "Project:" as a substitute. This will be converted automatically to the real name of the wiki. For example, on the Community Central wiki, Project:Admins and mods will link to the same page that Community Central:Admins and mods does.

The User namespace has the prefix User: and is used for information about users of the wiki. A user has a main user page and possibly some sub-pages. The main user page is linked from page histories and from recent changes. A user page has links to a user's talk page and contributions.

The File namespace is prefixed with File:. Pages in this namespace are also called image description pages. They are used for information about images or other files. Every image uploaded will show the information given in the upload summary on the image description page. (note: the previous prefix Image: will continue to work)

The MediaWiki namespace (prefix MediaWiki:) contains behind-the-scenes code and messages such as link labels and color schemes. These are only editable by a wiki's administrators. An automatically generated list of all interface messages can be found at Special:Allmessages. See Help:System messages for more.

The Template namespace can be used for small standard texts which need to be inserted on a number of pages. Templates can be things like infoboxes or items in a list. They can be inserted with {{Template name}}; see Help:Templates for a more in-depth description.

The Category namespace contains categories of pages, with each displaying a list of pages in that category and optional additional text; see Help:Category.

The Help namespace is for help pages. The Shared Help system automatically provides pages from Fandom Help to each individual wiki, but projects can add their own notes about local practices above the shared text, and add new help pages that are unique to their projects in this namespace.

The Forum namespace can be used for threaded forum messages. These are normally conversations and questions for the entire wiki to contribute in. See Help:Wiki-style forums. Note: It is suggested to now use the Forum tool or Discussions instead.

What are the talk namespaces?

Except for special pages, each namespace has an associated talk namespace. The talk namespaces are designated by adding talk: to the normal prefix. For example, the talk namespace associated with the unprefixed main article namespace has the prefix Talk:, while the talk namespace associated with the User: namespace has the prefix User talk:. Most of the pages in the talk namespaces are used to discuss changes to the corresponding page in the associated namespace.

Pages in the user talk namespace are useful for leaving messages for a particular user, since they will get automatic notification of any messages left there; see Help:User page.

What are virtual namespaces?

There are two virtual namespaces that do not relate to pages stored in the database.

Special pages, or the special namespace, are automatically generated and uneditable pages, such as Special:RecentChanges or Special:UserLogin. They're vital to the MediaWiki software.

The Media prefix can be used to link directly to an image or sound clip, in the form [[Media:Image.jpg]] or [[Media:Sound.ogg]], rather than linking to the image description page.

See also

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