Template:Short description

Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```</syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```</syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```</syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```</syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```</syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ````

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ````

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ````

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ````

Less Ideal Examples:

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```` (Too long, conversational)

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```` (Not specific enough)

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```` (Ends with a period)

• `Okay, here is a comprehensive wiki article about `` formatted using MediaWiki syntax.

```mediawiki Template:Template doc page transcluded

Template:Short description

The Template:Tl template is used on Wikipedia pages to provide a concise, one-line description of the page's subject. This description is primarily intended for consumption by search engines, internal Wikipedia search, page previews (hovercards), and other automated systems and tools, rather than being displayed prominently on the page itself.

Purpose and Benefits

Adding a short description serves several important functions:

• Improved Search Results: External search engines like Google often use the short description as the text snippet displayed below the page title in search results, helping users understand the page's content before clicking. Wikipedia's internal search also utilizes these descriptions.
• Enhanced Page Previews: When users hover their mouse over a link to a page (depending on their preferences and interface), the short description is often displayed in the preview pop-up, providing context.
• Mobile Readability: Short descriptions are frequently used in mobile interfaces to quickly orient the reader to the page's subject.
• Accessibility and Tools: Scripts, gadgets, and third-party tools can utilize short descriptions to provide better navigation, summaries, or data exports.
• Override Wikidata: Although descriptions are also stored on Wikidata, the local `Template:Tl` template on a Wikipedia page takes precedence. This allows editors to provide a description tailored specifically for the English Wikipedia context, which might be more specific or clearer than the generic description on Wikidata.

Usage

To add a short description to a page, simply place the `Template:Tl` template at the top of the page, usually after any hatnotes and before the infobox or lead section.

The template takes one unnamed parameter: the description itself.

Basic Syntax: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Examples:

• For an article about a person:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a place:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about a species:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

• For an article about an event:

   <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext"></syntaxhighlight>

Placement

The `Template:Tl` template should typically be placed near the very top of the page's wikitext. The standard placement is:

1. Any hatnotes (e.g., `Template:For`, `Template:About`)
2. The `Template:Tl` template
3. Any infobox
4. The lead section of the article

Placing it consistently near the top makes it easy for editors to find, add, or modify the description. Avoid placing it inside infoboxes, reference sections, or other templates unless specifically instructed by the documentation for those templates.

Visibility

It is important to understand that the short description added via `Template:Tl` is not typically displayed as part of the visible page content when a user reads the article in a standard web browser. Its primary visibility is in:

• Search engine results snippets (e.g., Google)
• Wikipedia's internal search results
• Page previews (hovering over links)
• Mobile interfaces
• Data accessed by bots, tools, and scripts

Some user scripts or interface gadgets may exist that make the short description visible on the page for editors or specific users, but this is not the default behavior for general readers.

Guidelines for Writing Short Descriptions

To be most effective, short descriptions should follow these guidelines:

• Concise: Keep it short and to the point, ideally under 40 words. One sentence is usually sufficient.
• Accurate: It must accurately reflect the subject of the page.
• Neutral: Maintain a neutral point of view, consistent with Wikipedia's core principles.
• Specific: Clearly identify what the subject is (e.g., "American actor", not just "actor").
• Start Lowercase: Begin with a lowercase letter, unless the first word is a proper noun (e.g., "City in France", but "French film").
• No Period: Do not end the description with a period.
• Avoid Jargon: Use language that is easily understood by a general audience.
• Don't Repeat Title: Avoid unnecessarily repeating the page title at the start of the description (e.g., for "London", use "Capital city of the United Kingdom", not "London is the capital city...").

Good Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Less Ideal Examples:

• `` (Too long, conversational)
• `` (Not specific enough)
• `` (Ends with a period)
• `` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```` (Repeats title unnecessarily)

Interaction with Wikidata

Wikipedia pages are often linked to items on Wikidata, which also have descriptions.

• If a page has a `Template:Tl` template, the description provided in the template will be used, and the Wikidata description will be ignored for purposes of display on English Wikipedia interfaces and by tools prioritizing local descriptions.
• If a page does not have a `Template:Tl` template, Wikipedia interfaces and tools will typically fetch and use the description from the linked Wikidata item as a fallback.

Adding a local short description is useful when the Wikidata description is generic, unclear, or needs to be more specific for the English Wikipedia context (e.g., to help distinguish between similar topics).

Special Cases

• Disambiguation Pages: Use `Template:Tl`.
• Redirects: Usually do not need a short description. If one is added for specific reasons (e.g., a prominent redirect), `Template:Tl` or a specific description of the redirect target may be used, but this is less common.
• Categories: Often use `Template:Tl` or a specific description like `Template:Tl`.
• Templates: Describe the template's purpose, e.g., `Template:Tl`.
• User Pages: Generally do not need short descriptions. If desired, `Template:Tl` or a brief self-description could be used, but this is uncommon.

Technical Details

Adding `Template:Tl` places the page into . Pages using the Wikidata description fall into . These categories help track coverage and identify pages needing local descriptions.

See Also

• Wikidata - The linked knowledge base where descriptions are also stored.
• Help:Page information - Includes the short description among other metadata.
• Wikipedia:Page previews - Explains the hovercard feature that uses short descriptions.
• Wikipedia:Wikidata#Descriptions - More details on Wikidata descriptions.

Conclusion

The `Template:Tl` template is a valuable tool for improving the discoverability and usability of Wikipedia content across various platforms and tools. Editors are encouraged to add accurate and concise short descriptions to pages, prioritizing articles lacking any description or those where the Wikidata description is insufficient. ```