What editing a wiki template means and why you'd do it
A wiki template is a reusable block of text, formatting, or code that appears in multiple wiki pages. When you edit a template, you change what appears everywhere it's used — not just on one page. This is useful when you want to update information that shows up in dozens of articles at once, or when you need to fix formatting that's broken across your whole wiki.
The most common reason to edit a template is to change text that repeats. For example, if your wiki has a "Welcome" template that appears on every new user's page, editing that template once updates the welcome message for everyone. You might also edit a template to add a new field, remove outdated information, or change how something looks across your entire site.
Templates work differently from regular pages because they're designed to be included in other pages. When you edit a template, you need to understand how it's being used elsewhere, or your change might break pages that depend on it.
Key Takeaways
- Find the template by searching for its name or looking in your wiki's template namespace, usually labeled "Template:" at the start of the page title.
- Click the Edit button on the template page itself, not on a page that uses the template, because editing the template page changes all instances at once.
- Look for curly braces and pipe characters — these are template syntax, and changing them can break pages that use the template.
- Test your changes on a copy of the template or on a test page before saving, especially if you're editing template code rather than just text.
- Check the "What links here" section to see which pages use your template, so you know what might be affected by your change.
Finding the template you want to edit
Templates live in a separate section of your wiki called the template namespace. On most wikis, this means the page title starts with "Template:" — for example, "Template:Welcome" or "Template:Infobox". If you know the template's name, you can search for it directly using your wiki's search box. Type "Template:" followed by the name, and the search should take you to the template page.
If you don't know the exact name, look at a page that uses the template you want to edit. The template will usually appear as a box, banner, or formatted section. Right-click on it or look for a link that says "edit" or "view source" — this will show you the code that calls the template. The code will look something like {{TemplateName}} or {{TemplateName|parameter=value}}. The name inside the curly braces is what you search for.
Some wikis have a "Templates" category or index page that lists all available templates. Check your wiki's main page or help section to see if one exists.
Opening the template for editing
Once you've found the template page, look for an "Edit" button or tab near the top of the page. Click it to enter edit mode. You'll see the template's code and text in an editing box. This is where you make your changes.
If you see a message saying you don't have permission to edit, you may need to create an account or log in. Some wikis restrict template editing to registered users or administrators because a mistake in a template affects many pages at once.
Before you start editing, take a moment to read through the entire template. Look for comments — these usually appear in green text or between <!-- --> marks — that explain what each part does. Understanding the template's structure before you change it will help you avoid breaking it.
Understanding template syntax so you don't break it
Templates use special syntax that tells the wiki how to display them. The most important symbols are curly braces {} and pipe characters |. If you change or delete these by accident, the template will stop working.
Curly braces mark the start and end of a template call. A template always begins with {{ and ends with }}. Inside the braces, you'll see the template name and sometimes parameters separated by pipe characters. For example: {{Infobox|title=Example|color=blue}}. The text between the pipes are parameters — they tell the template what information to display.
Pipe characters | separate parameters from each other. If you're adding a new line of information to a template, you'll usually add a new pipe and a parameter name. If you're just changing the text that appears (not the structure), you can edit freely without worrying about these symbols.
If you're unsure whether your change will break the template, look at the template's documentation. Many templates have a "doc" page or a section at the bottom that explains what each parameter does and what happens if you change it.
Making your changes safely
Start by making only the change you intended. If you're updating text that appears in the template, find that text and edit it directly. If you're changing how the template looks or adding a new field, make that one change and save it.
Before you save, use the "Show preview" button to see how your change will look. This is especially important if you've edited the template's code or structure. The preview shows you what the template will display without actually saving your change.
If you're making a big change — like adding a new parameter or removing a section — consider creating a test version first. You can do this by editing the template, copying all its code, and pasting it into a new test page. Make your changes on the test page, preview it, and only move your changes to the real template once you're confident they work.
After you save, check a few pages that use the template to make sure they still display correctly. If something looks wrong, go back to the template and fix it. Most wikis keep a history of changes, so you can undo your edit if needed.
Checking what pages use your template before you save
To see which pages will be affected by your change, look for a "What links here" link on the template page. This shows you every page that uses the template. Click through a few of them to understand how your template is being used in context.
This step is especially important if you're removing a parameter or changing how the template works. If you see that hundreds of pages use the template, a small mistake could affect all of them. Take extra time to preview your change and test it on a copy before saving.
If you're making a change that might break pages using the template, consider leaving a note in the template's documentation explaining what changed and why. This helps other editors understand your decision and fix any pages that need adjustment.
Saving your changes and documenting what you did
When you're ready to save, click the "Save" or "Publish" button. Most wikis will ask you to write a brief summary of what you changed — for example, "Updated welcome message" or "Fixed formatting in infobox". This summary helps other editors understand why the change was made and makes it easier to undo if something goes wrong.
After you save, your change takes effect immediately on all pages that use the template. Check a few of those pages to confirm everything looks right. If you notice a problem, go back to the template and fix it as soon as you can.
If your template has a documentation page, update it to reflect your changes. For example, if you added a new parameter, document what it does and what values it accepts. This helps other editors use the template correctly in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between editing a template and editing a page that uses the template?
Editing the template page itself changes what appears everywhere the template is used. Editing a page that uses the template only changes that one page. If you want to update information across your whole wiki, edit the template. If you want to change just one instance, edit the page that uses it.
Can I undo a change I made to a template?
Yes. Most wikis keep a history of all changes. Look for a "History" tab on the template page, find the version before your change, and click "Revert" or "Undo". This restores the template to its previous state. You can also manually edit the template again to fix the problem.
What happens if I accidentally break a template?
Pages that use the template may display incorrectly or show error messages. The best fix is to undo your change using the history. If you're not sure how to fix it, leave a message on the template's talk page asking for help. Other editors can see the problem and help you restore it.
Do I need special permissions to edit templates?
It depends on your wiki. Some wikis let anyone edit templates, while others restrict template editing to registered users or administrators. If you can't click the Edit button, you may need to create an account or ask an administrator for permission.
How do I add a new parameter to a template?
Open the template for editing and look at how existing parameters are structured. Add a new line with a pipe character and the parameter name, following the same format. Then update the template's documentation to explain what the new parameter does. Test it on a copy before saving to the real template.