Help:List

Help:List is a guidance page on MediaWiki, the software that powers many wikis, including Wikipedia. This page provides users with instructions and best practices for creating and managing lists within articles and other wiki pages. Lists are a fundamental aspect of structuring content on wikis, allowing information to be presented in a clear, concise, and organized manner.

Types of Lists

There are several types of lists that can be used in MediaWiki:

• Bulleted lists: Used for items that do not require a specific order. Bulleted lists are ideal for summarizing information or presenting various points succinctly.
• Numbered lists: Appropriate for items that need to be in a specific order. They are often used for instructions, ranked items, or any scenario where the sequence of the items is important.
• Definition lists: These lists are used to provide definitions or explanations of terms. They pair a term with its description, making it easy to scan through complex information.

Creating Lists

To create a list in MediaWiki, users utilize a simple markup syntax. Here’s how to create each type of list:

Bulleted Lists

To create a bulleted list, use an asterisk (*) before each item. For example:

* Item 1
* Item 2
* Item 3

Numbered Lists

For a numbered list, use the number sign (#) before each item:

# Item 1
# Item 2
# Item 3

Definition Lists

Definition lists require a semicolon (;) for the term and a colon (:) for its definition:

; Term 1
: Definition 1
; Term 2
: Definition 2

Best Practices

When using lists in MediaWiki, consider the following best practices:

• Consistency: Keep the style and format of lists consistent throughout an article or across related pages.
• Relevance: Only use lists when they add clarity and value to the content. Avoid overusing lists, especially in cases where narrative paragraphs could be more effective.
• Accessibility: Structure lists in a way that is accessible to all users, including those using screen readers or other assistive technologies.

See Also

• Help:Editing
• Help:Formatting