Help:URL
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Help:URL is a guide on Wikipedia that provides users with information on how to correctly format and use URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) within articles. URLs are used to link to external websites or resources that are relevant to the content of a Wikipedia page. This help page is essential for contributors who wish to add external links or reference their sources by linking to online content.
Overview
A URL is the address of a resource on the Internet and can be used in Wikipedia articles to link to external sites. URLs must be used appropriately to comply with Wikipedia's external links guideline. The Help:URL page offers detailed instructions on how to insert URLs in articles, how to format them correctly, and the policies regarding their use.
Formatting URLs
To add a URL to a Wikipedia article, editors must use the correct syntax to ensure that the link works and is accessible. The basic syntax for inserting an external link is:
[http://www.example.com Link label]
Where "http://www.example.com" is the URL and "Link label" is the text that will be displayed as the link. Editors are encouraged to provide a clear and concise label that informs readers of the link's destination.
Policies and Guidelines
Wikipedia has specific policies and guidelines regarding the use of URLs:
- External links - This guideline helps determine what types of external links are appropriate for Wikipedia articles.
- Spam - Wikipedia's spam guidelines prohibit the use of external links that serve promotional purposes.
- Citing sources - When using a URL as a citation, editors must ensure that the source is reliable and that the citation is formatted correctly.
Common Issues
Editors may encounter several common issues when adding URLs, including:
- Broken links - URLs that no longer lead to the intended content.
- Link rot - When a URL becomes inactive over time, leading to a dead link.
- Non-secure links - It is recommended to use "https://" protocols when available to ensure the security of the linked content.
See Also
External Links
While this page itself is about external links, it is important to refer to the external links guideline for more detailed information on this topic.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
