How do I modify a template on an article?

answered 2015-10-06 11:29:22 -0600

Adam (Wiki Ed)

updated 2017-07-25 08:58:49 -0600

Shalor (Wiki Ed)

Templates are special pages on Wikipedia that allow editors to change how articles and project pages are rendered. You won't notice them much while reading Wikipedia, but they can appear a little confusing when you start to edit.

You can add or modify templates on a page using the Visual Editor. To add a new template, click the "Insert" menu and select the "Template" option.

This produces a new search box where you can search for the needed template.

While in the edit mode, templates on the page will show an edit button when you click them. Clicking "edit" on an existing template will bring up a menu to add parameters (like name or image for an infobox).

Sometimes the parameters will contain explanations on the page for their functions and commonly used options will be preloaded in the template. If these do not appear, you can follow the displayed link to the template page itself, which will contain a list of the parameters used and their function. Don't worry about getting the name exactly right, the Visual Editor will autocomplete parameter names as you add them.