Help:Self link
From Eugene Neighbors
{{#if: Help|{{#if:|Other languages:}} Template:H-langs:
{{#if: Help||}}|{{#if:|Other languages:}} Template:H-langs: {{#if: Help||}}}} A self link is a link to the page itself. Since it is likely to be confusing to click on a link that leads back to the same page, a self link appears as non-clickable bold text (the "self-link format") when the article is viewed, instead of the normal wikilink format. Examples:
- [[Help:Self link]] gives Help:Self link
- [[Help:Self link]]abc gives Help:Self linkabc
- [[Help:Self link|piped self link]] gives piped self link
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[edit] Purpose
By itself it is not useful to create bold text this way. However, the feature can be useful if, after expansion of any templates etc., the same wikitext is used on multiple pages, and depending on the page it should produce a working link or just bold text. This applies in particular in the case of links in a template which is called on the various target pages.
[edit] Clickable self links
Notwithstanding the description above, there are some self links to which the self-link format does not apply.
[edit] Self link with full URL
Providing an external link with the full URL of the same page on which the link appears will give a standard, clickable link. For example, if you are viewing the master copy on Meta of this help page ([1]), then this is demonstrated here:
- [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Self_link] gives [2]
[edit] Indirect self link
An indirect self link is a link to a page that redirects back. In this case the self-link format does not apply, even though it would be equally useful here. If you are viewing the master copy on Meta of this help page, then this is demonstrated here:
- [[Self link]] gives Self link
[edit] Self link with interwiki project prefix
Also, when the prefix for the project itself is added (interwiki link style, but again linking to the page itself) the self-link format does not apply; if you are viewing the master copy on Meta of this help page then this is demonstrated here:
- [[m:Help:Self link]] gives m:Help:Self link
[edit] Self link to a section
See Help:Link#Anchors for more information on this.
For a link to a section of the same article, even from the same section, the self-link format does not apply:
- [[Help:Self link#Self link to a section]] gives Help:Self link#Self link to a section
The [[#top]] link is a convenient way to link back to the top of a long page, without leaving the reader confused about the link's purpose.
- [[#top]] gives #top
- [[#top|Top of Article]] gives Top of Article
[edit] See also
- Help:Navigational template - regarding the use of self links in templates
{{#if: Help|{{#if: Help|Template:Ph:Self link}}
[edit] Links to other help pages
- Help contents (all help pages)
- Meta | Wikinews | Wikipedia | Wikiquote | Wiktionary | commons: | mw: | b: | s:
- Versions of this help page (for other languages see below)
- Meta | Wikinews | {{#if:|{{#if:Wikipedia|Wikipedia|w:Help:Self_link#}}|{{#if:Wikipedia|Wikipedia|w:Help:Self_link}}}} | Wikiquote | Wiktionary
- Links to this page from Meta (int) Meta (ext) Wikipedia MediaWiki
- Reading
- Go | Search | Stop words | URL | Namespace | Page name | Section
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- Logging in | Preferences | User style
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- Advanced editing | Editing FAQ | Editing toolbar | Export | Import
- Editing tips and tricks | Editing shortcuts
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- Recent changes (enhanced) | Related changes | Watching pages | Diff
- Page history | Edit summary | User contributions | Minor edit | Patrolled edit
- Style & formatting
- Wikitext examples | Wikitext reference | Reference card
- HTML in wikitext | HTML elements
- List | Table | Sorting
- Special input and output
- Inputbox | Special characters | Displaying a formula | Images and other uploaded files | EasyTimeline
- Advanced functioning
- Template | Advanced templates | Parser function | ParserFunctions | Parameter default | Variable | Magic word | System message | Substitution
- Array | Calculation
- Page management
- Starting a new page | Renaming (moving) a page | Maintenance | Merging and moving pages | Protecting pages
- Resolving disputes | Deleting a page
- Special pages
- Talk page | Testing | Sandbox
- Lists of resources
- Lists of Categories | Copyrights | Infobox
- Redirect | Reference Desk | Shortcuts | Stub types
Other languages: Template:H-langs:Self link |{{#if: Help|Template:Ph:Self link}}
[edit] Links to other help pages
- Help contents (all help pages)
- Meta | Wikinews | Wikipedia | Wikiquote | Wiktionary | commons: | mw: | b: | s:
- Versions of this help page (for other languages see below)
- Meta | Wikinews | {{#if:|{{#if:Wikipedia|Wikipedia|w:Help:Self_link#}}|{{#if:Wikipedia|Wikipedia|w:Help:Self_link}}}} | Wikiquote | Wiktionary
- Links to this page from Meta (int) Meta (ext) Wikipedia MediaWiki
- Reading
- Go | Search | Stop words | URL | Namespace | Page name | Section
- Backlinks | Link | Piped link | Interwiki link | Redirect | Category | Image page
- Logging in and preferences
- Logging in | Preferences | User style
- Editing
- Advanced editing | Editing FAQ | Editing toolbar | Export | Import
- Editing tips and tricks | Editing shortcuts
- Tracking changes
- Recent changes (enhanced) | Related changes | Watching pages | Diff
- Page history | Edit summary | User contributions | Minor edit | Patrolled edit
- Style & formatting
- Wikitext examples | Wikitext reference | Reference card
- HTML in wikitext | HTML elements
- List | Table | Sorting
- Special input and output
- Inputbox | Special characters | Displaying a formula | Images and other uploaded files | EasyTimeline
- Advanced functioning
- Template | Advanced templates | Parser function | ParserFunctions | Parameter default | Variable | Magic word | System message | Substitution
- Array | Calculation
- Page management
- Starting a new page | Renaming (moving) a page | Maintenance | Merging and moving pages | Protecting pages
- Resolving disputes | Deleting a page
- Special pages
- Talk page | Testing | Sandbox
- Lists of resources
- Lists of Categories | Copyrights | Infobox
- Redirect | Reference Desk | Shortcuts | Stub types
Other languages: Template:H-langs:Self link }}
