View source for VideoLAN Wiki:Syntax

Please follow these guidelines when editing this wiki.
There will be more guidelines later.

== The basics ==
This wiki uses the same general syntax as Wikipedia, because both use MediaWiki markup ([https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Editing Editing help on MediaWiki]).

If you've ever edited on Wikipedia, this should look familiar.

=== General markup ===
''Note: You can practice editing at the [[Sandbox|Sandbox page]] whenever you like.''

;Lists
* To make a bulleted list, begin lines with asterisks <code>*</code>
* To make a numbered list, begin lines with pound signs <code>#</code> (which will be automatically re-numbered if you add or remove items—this is generally smart for long or frequently-changing lists).

;Markup
* Add two apostrophes around a word or phrase to make it italic: <nowiki>''example''</nowiki> → ''example''
* Add three apostrophes around a word or phrase to make it bold: <nowiki>'''example'''</nowiki> → '''example'''
* Occasionally, both are needed. Add five apostrophes around a word or phrase to make it both: <nowiki>'''''example'''''</nowiki> → '''''example'''''

;Linking
* The formula for creating an internal link is <nowiki>[[target page]]</nowiki> or <nowiki>[[target page|text to display]]</nowiki>
** <nowiki>[[VLC]]</nowiki> gives [[VLC]]
** <nowiki>[[VLC|this totally awesome media player]]</nowiki> gives [[VLC|this totally awesome media player]]
* There are several ways to create external links: a simple outgoing link, a shortened link, or a shortened link with alternate text:
** <nowiki>http://example.com/</nowiki> gives http://example.com/ (this makes for the clearest links)
** <nowiki>[http://example.com/]</nowiki> gives [http://example.com/] (this should only be used if the site name is long or unimportant)
** <nowiki>[http://example.com/ text to display]</nowiki> gives [http://example.com/ text to display] (useful, but can become confusing if over-used)

=== General words of advice ===
* Use the editing toolbar to help you; it provides buttons to help you out.
* Keep things simple, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
* Wikipedia has already prepared a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cheatsheet cheat-sheet] for you that you might find useful editing here.

== Templates ==

* See the [[List of templates|Documented List of Templates]].
* See [[Special:PrefixIndex/Template:|all templates on {{SERVERNAME}}]]