What a wiki page is and why you might create one

A wiki is a website where many people can read and edit pages together. The most famous wiki is Wikipedia, but companies, schools, and groups use private wikis to share knowledge within their own community. When you add a wiki page, you are creating a new article on that wiki that other people can then read, edit, or build on.

The steps to add a page depend on which wiki you are using. Wikipedia has strict rules about what pages can exist and who can create them. A company wiki might let any employee add a page in minutes. This guide covers the most common wikis and what to expect at each step.

Key Takeaways

  • Most wikis require you to create a free account before you can add a page, though some let you edit without logging in.
  • Wikipedia has a waiting period for new accounts and requires pages to meet notability standards, so creating a page there is harder than on other wikis.
  • On company or group wikis, you usually click "Create page" or "New page" and type your content directly into a straightforward editor.
  • Wiki pages use plain text formatting or straightforward markup language, not the buttons and menus of word processors.
  • Most wikis let you preview your page before saving it, so you can catch mistakes without publishing them live.

Creating an account on the wiki you want to use

Before you can add a page, you need an account on that specific wiki. Click the "Create account" or "Sign up" link, usually in the top right corner of the page. You will need to choose a username and password. Some wikis ask for an email address; others do not.

On Wikipedia, new accounts cannot create pages for about four days. This is to prevent spam. During that time, you can edit existing pages and prepare your content. On smaller wikis — company wikis, fan wikis, or community wikis — you can usually create a page when ready after signing up.

If you are adding a page to a wiki at your workplace or school, ask your manager or teacher for the wiki's web address and whether you need special permission. Some private wikis are only open to people in that organization.

Finding the button to create a new page

The location of the "create page" button varies by wiki software. On Wikipedia, go to the page where you want the new page to link from, then click the red link (a link to a page that does not yet exist). You can also search for the page title you want; if it does not exist, the search results will offer to let you create it.

On wikis using MediaWiki software (the same software Wikipedia uses), look for a "Create" button or link near the top of the page. On wikis using Confluence (common in companies), click the "Create" button in the top navigation. On wikis using other software, look for "New page", "Add page", or a plus sign icon.

If you cannot find the button, check the wiki's help section or ask an administrator. Some wikis hide the create button from new users until they have made a few edits to existing pages.

Writing and formatting your page content

Wiki editors do not work like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Instead of clicking buttons to make text bold or create lists, you type special characters around your text. The most common wiki markup uses asterisks for bold (*bold text*), equals signs for headings (=== Heading ===), and hyphens for bullet lists.

When you open the editor, you will see either a blank text box or a toolbar with formatting buttons. If you see buttons, click them to insert the markup automatically. If you see only a text box, you will type the markup by hand. Most wikis show you a "Markup help" or "Formatting" link that lists the symbols you need.

Start with a clear heading at the top of your page. Add a short introduction paragraph that explains what the page is about. Then organize the rest of your content into sections with subheadings. Keep sentences short and link to other wiki pages by putting the page title in double square brackets: [[Page Title]].

Previewing your page before you save it

Before you click "Save" or "Publish", click "Preview" or "Show preview". This displays your page exactly as other people will see it, with all the formatting applied. Check that headings look right, lists are formatted correctly, and links work. Look for spelling mistakes and sentences that are unclear.

If something looks wrong, go back to the editor, fix it, and preview again. This takes an extra minute but prevents you from publishing a page with mistakes that other people will see when ready. On Wikipedia and most public wikis, your changes are visible to everyone as soon as you save, so preview is your final note to catch errors.

Saving your page and what happens next

Click "Save page", "Publish", or "Create" (the button name depends on the wiki). You will see a message confirming that the page was created. The page is now live and other people can read it.

On Wikipedia, your new page will be reviewed by experienced editors. If it does not meet Wikipedia's standards — for example, if the topic is too obscure or the page reads like advertising — it may be deleted within days or weeks. You will receive a message on your account explaining why. On private wikis, there is usually no review process; your page stays up unless an administrator removes it.

After you save, you can edit the page again at any time by clicking "Edit" at the top. Other people can also edit your page, add information, or fix mistakes. This is normal and expected on a wiki. If someone makes a change you disagree with, you can discuss it on the page's "Talk" or "Discussion" tab.

Understanding wiki rules and what you cannot do

Wikipedia has strict rules about what pages can exist. The topic must be notable — meaning it has been written about in reliable sources outside Wikipedia. You cannot create a page about yourself, your business, or your local band unless they have been covered in newspapers or magazines. Pages that look like advertising or promotion are deleted.

Most company and group wikis have fewer rules. You can usually create a page about any topic relevant to your organization. However, do not post confidential information, personal data about other people, or anything that violates your organization's policies.

On any wiki, do not copy text from other websites and paste it into your page. This is plagiarism and violates copyright. Write in your own words or quote a source and link to it. If you are copying from another wiki page, check that wiki's license first — most wikis allow reuse if you credit the source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my wiki page after I create it?

On most wikis, you cannot delete your own page. You can blank it (remove all the text) or ask an administrator to delete it, but the page itself stays in the wiki's history. On Wikipedia, only administrators can delete pages, and they usually only do so if the page breaks Wikipedia's rules.

What if someone edits my page and I do not like the changes?

Click the "History" tab to see all changes made to the page. Click "Undo" next to the change you want to reverse, or revert to an earlier version. Then leave a message on the page's "Talk" tab explaining why you reverted the change. Most wikis expect editors to discuss disagreements rather than fighting over edits.

Do I need to know how to code to create a wiki page?

No. Wiki markup is simpler than code. You are just typing a few special characters like asterisks and equals signs. Most wikis also have visual editors with buttons you can click instead of typing markup by hand. If you can write an email, you can create a wiki page.

Can I add images or videos to my wiki page?

Yes, but the process varies by wiki. On Wikipedia, you upload images through the "Upload file" link. On company wikis, you usually click an image button in the editor and upload from your computer. Videos are trickier — most wikis do not let you upload video directly, but you can embed a video from YouTube or another site by pasting a special code.

How do I know if my page will be deleted on Wikipedia?

Wikipedia has a "Notability" guideline. Your topic needs to be covered in at least two independent, reliable sources (newspapers, magazines, academic journals — not blogs or social media). If you are unsure, create a "Draft" page first instead of publishing directly. Drafts are not reviewed as strictly and give you time to gather sources and improve the page.