Help:MediaWiki Syntax

Page content from mw:Help:Formatting

You can format your text using wiki markup. This consists of normal characters like asterisks, single quotes or equal signs which have a special function in the wiki, sometimes depending on their position. For example, to format a word in italic, you include it in two pairs of single quotes like ''this''.

Text formatting markup

Description	You type	You get
character (inline) formatting – applies anywhere
Italic text	''italic''	italic
Bold text	'''bold'''	bold
Bold and italic	'''''bold & italic'''''	bold & italic
Escape wiki markup	<nowiki>no ''markup''</nowiki>	no ''markup''
section formatting – only at the beginning of the line
Headings of different levels	= Level 1 = == Level 2 == === Level 3 === ==== Level 4 ==== ===== Level 5 ===== ====== Level 6 ====== Note: An article with 4 or more headings automatically creates a table of contents.	Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Horizontal rule	Text above ---- Text below	Text above Text below
Bullet list	* Start each line * with an [[Wikipedia:asterisk|asterisk]] (*). ** More asterisks gives deeper *** and deeper levels. * Line breaks<br />don't break levels. *** But jumping levels creates empty space. Any other first character ends the list.	Start each line with an asterisk (*). More asterisks gives deeper and deeper levels. Line breaks don't break levels. But jumping levels creates empty space. Any other first character ends the list.
Numbered list	# Start each line # with a [[Wikipedia:Number_sign|number sign]] (#). ## More number signs gives deeper ### and deeper ### levels. # Line breaks<br />don't break levels. ### But jumping levels creates empty space. # Blank lines # end the list and start another. Any other first character also ends the list.	Start each line with a number sign (#). More number signs gives deeper and deeper levels. Line breaks don't break levels. But jumping levels creates empty space. Blank lines end the list and start another. Any other first character also ends the list.
Definition list	;item 1 : definition 1 ;item 2 : definition 2-1 : definition 2-2	item 1 definition 1 item 2 definition 2-1 definition 2-2
Adopting definition list to indent text	: Single indent :: Double indent ::::: Multiple indent Note: This workaround may be controversial from the viewpoint of accessibility.	Single indent Double indent Multiple indent
Mixture of different types of list	# one # two #* two point one #* two point two # three #; three item one #: three def one # four #: four def one #: this looks like a continuation #: and is often used #: instead<br />of <nowiki><br /></nowiki> # five ## five sub 1 ### five sub 1 sub 1 ## five sub 2 Note: The usage of #: and *: for breaking a line within an item may also be controversial.	one two two point one two point two three three item one three def one four four def one this looks like a continuation and is often used instead of <br /> five five sub 1 five sub 1 sub 1 five sub 2
Preformatted text	Start each line with a space. Text is '''preformatted''' and ''markups'' '''''can''''' be done Note: This way of preformatting only applies to section formatting. Character formatting markups are still effective.	Start each line with a space. Text is preformatted and markups can be done

Paragraphs

MediaWiki ignores single line breaks. To start a new paragraph, leave an empty line. You can force a line break within a paragraph with the HTML tags <br />.

HTML tags

Some HTML tags are allowed in MediaWiki, for example <code>, <div>, <tt> and <font>. These apply anywhere you insert them.

Description	You type	You get
Underscore	<u>underscore</u>	underscore
Strikethrough	<del>Strikethrough</del> or <s>Strikethrough</s>	Strikethrough or Strikethrough
Fixed width text	<code ruby>Source code</code> or <tt>Fixed width text</tt>	puts "Source code" or Fixed width text
Blockquotes	text above text above <blockquote>blockquote</blockquote> text below text below	text above text above blockquote text below text below
Comment	<!-- This is a comment --> Comments are only visible in the edit window.	Comments are only visible in the edit window.
Completely preformatted text	<pre> Text is '''preformatted''' and ''markups'' '''''cannot''''' be done</pre> Note: For marking up of preformatted text, check the "Preformatted text" entry at the bottom of the previous table.	Text is '''preformatted''' and ''markups'' '''''cannot''''' be done
Customized preformatted text	<pre style="color:red"> Text is '''preformatted''' with a style and ''markups'' '''''cannot''''' be done </pre> Note: A CSS style can be named within the style property.	Text is '''preformatted''' with a style and ''markups'' '''''cannot''''' be done

HTML symbols

An HTML symbol entity is a sequence of characters that produces one particular character. For example, &rarr; produces a right arrow "→" and &mdash; produces an em dash "—". HTML symbol entities are allowed in MediaWiki and are sometimes used in advanced editing for two main reasons: to insert characters not normally available on keyboards:

&copy; → ©

&delta; → δ

and to prevent the parser from interpreting and displaying HTML tags and symbols:

&amp;euro; → &euro;

&euro; → €

&lt;span style="color:green;">Green&lt;/span> → <span style="color:green;">Green</span>

<span style="color:green;">Green</span> → Green

For a table of commonly used entities, see Help:HTML Entities.