Help:Searching
Help:Searching is a guide to assist users in effectively utilizing the search functionality within MediaWiki-based websites. This guide covers the basics of searching, advanced search options, and tips for refining search results.
Basic Searching[edit | edit source]
To perform a basic search, enter your query into the search box typically located at the top right corner of the page. Press "Enter" or click the search icon to view the results. The search engine will return a list of pages that contain the terms you entered.
Advanced Searching[edit | edit source]
MediaWiki offers several advanced search options to help users find more specific information:
- Prefix search: Use the "prefix:" keyword to limit the search to pages that start with a specific prefix. For example, "prefix:Help" will return pages that start with "Help".
- Exact phrase: Enclose your search terms in double quotes to search for an exact phrase. For example, searching for "exact phrase" will return pages containing that exact sequence of words.
- Excluding terms: Use a minus sign (-) before a word to exclude pages containing that word. For example, "search -term" will return pages that contain "search" but not "term".
- Wildcard search: Use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard to represent any number of characters. For example, "search*" will return pages containing words that start with "search".
Search Filters[edit | edit source]
MediaWiki allows users to filter search results by namespace. This can be particularly useful when looking for specific types of content, such as Help pages, Templates, or.
Search Tips[edit | edit source]
- Use specific and relevant keywords to improve the accuracy of your search results.
- Check the spelling of your search terms to ensure they are correct.
- Use advanced search options to narrow down your results.
- Explore related pages and links to find additional information.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
