VisualEditor

VisualEditor_text_format_menu

File:Editing makes me feel stupid.ogv File:Wikimania 2013 - VisualEditor - The present and future of editing our wikis.webm VisualEditor is a rich-text editor for MediaWiki that allows users to edit pages without needing to learn wikitext. It was developed by the Wikimedia Foundation to make editing more accessible to new users and to improve the overall editing experience.

Development[edit | edit source]

VisualEditor was first announced in 2011 and has undergone several stages of development and testing. The initial beta version was released in December 2012, and it was gradually rolled out to different Wikipedia language editions and other Wikimedia projects. The goal was to provide a more intuitive editing interface that would lower the barrier to entry for new contributors.

Features[edit | edit source]

VisualEditor offers a range of features designed to simplify the editing process:

**WYSIWYG Interface**: VisualEditor provides a "What You See Is What You Get" interface, allowing users to see the final formatting of their edits as they make them.
**Linking**: Users can easily add internal links and external links through a simple dialog box.
**Citations**: VisualEditor includes tools for adding and formatting citations, making it easier to reference sources.
**Templates**: Users can insert and edit templates without needing to understand the underlying wikitext.
**Media**: VisualEditor allows for the easy insertion and formatting of images and other media files.

Usage[edit | edit source]

VisualEditor is available as an option for all registered users on most Wikimedia projects. Users can switch between VisualEditor and the traditional wikitext editor as needed. The editor is particularly useful for new users who may find wikitext syntax challenging.

Limitations[edit | edit source]

While VisualEditor simplifies many aspects of editing, it does have some limitations. Certain advanced editing tasks may still require the use of wikitext. Additionally, VisualEditor may not be fully compatible with all custom templates and extensions used on different Wikimedia projects.

Reception[edit | edit source]

The reception of VisualEditor has been mixed. While many new users appreciate the simplified interface, some experienced editors prefer the control and flexibility offered by wikitext. The Wikimedia Foundation continues to improve VisualEditor based on user feedback.