This is a documentation subpage for Template:WikiProject Biography. It may contain usage information, categories and other content that is not part of the original template page.
Shortcut
{{WPBIO}}
This template is used on approximately 2,360,000 pages, or roughly 4% of all pages. To avoid major disruption and server load, any changes should be tested in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. The tested changes can be added to this page in a single edit. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.
This template is used by one or more bots.
If you intend to change this template in any significant way, move or nominate it for deletion, please inform the bot operators. Thank you. The relevant bots are: cewbot.
Because the {{WikiProject Biography}} template is used on almost two million pages, and that it puts a big strain on the servers every time it is updated (see the job queue), the template is currently protected and can be edited only by template editors and administrators.
If you would like to propose a change to this template:
If the changes are significant, then discuss it on the talk page first.
Test the changes in the Template:WikiProject Biography/sandbox and then request an edit to the template on the talk page.
Usageedit
Please note: This template should be transcluded as {{WikiProject Biography}} and not substituted, because it employs conditional code. Transclusion also allows easy updating of all the Project's talk pages without having to edit hundreds of thousands of pages. Many of these parameters place the talk page of the article into an appropriate category. A manually generated (though sporadically updated) list of all the categories used in this template is at Template:WikiProject Biography/category list.
Place this template on the talk page of biography articles.
Note for most talk pages, the |listas= parameter will be formatted as "Surname, Given Names", but this is not always true in certain cultures. See WP:NAMESORT, MOS:SURNAME, and MOS:GIVENNAME for further details.
Living people, active politicians and other BLP issuesedit
|living= Answer yes or no. If yes, this also affects the |needs-photo= parameter, to emphasize the fact that free images must be used. This parameter must be specified whether or not the person is living. In case of music bands or any other list of people that is under the scope of this WikiProject, the parameter should be set to "yes", if at least one of the people in that list is alive.
If |living=yes, this parameter adds {{BLP}} above WikiProject Biography and populates Category:Biography articles of living people.
Articles lacking this parameter are found in Category:Biography articles without living parameter.
|activepol= Answer yes, if the article is about a currently active politician, otherwise remove this line.
This parameter adds {{Active politician}} above WikiProject Biography and populates Category:Active politicians.
It can only be used if |living=yes.
|blpo= Answer yes, if the subject of the article is not a living person, but the article contains sensitive information about other living persons, otherwise remove this line.
This parameter adds {{BLP others}} above WikiProject Biography.
It can only be used if |living=no.
Note: The {{BLP}}, {{Active politician}} and {{BLP others}} banners will not be visible if WikiProject Biography is used within {{WikiProject banner shell}}, but the relevant categories will still be added. In such cases, these banners can still be added to a talk page by using the relevant parameters in {{WikiProject banner shell}}; please refer to that template's documentation for further instruction.
Any changes to the wording of these banners should be requested on the corresponding template talk page, not here.
Assessmentsedit
class – valid values are fa, a, ga, b, c, start, stub, fl, list, category, disambig, draft, file, portal, project, template, na (case-insensitive). See the project's quality scale for details. Setting an explicit value of NA is rarely necessary; for this, either leave |class= blank or omit the parameter.
If left blank, this will default to Unassessed. This parameter populates the corresponding subcategories of Category:Biography articles by quality. Additional categories will be populated, if one or more work groups are specified.
priority – valid values are: top, high, mid, low, na (case-insensitive). See the project's priority scale for details. Setting an explicit value of NA is rarely necessary; for this, either leave |priority= blank or omit the parameter.
This parameter is deprecated. Please use the priority parameters specific to the relevant project task forces instead.
Will add articles to Category:Biography articles with plain priority parameter and, if a project task force is specified, Category:Biography articles needing priority parameter replacement.
auto – This parameter is for the use of bots and indicates that the article has been automatically rated:
|auto=length – based on the length of the article
|auto=inherit – because one or more other projects use this class
|auto=yes (or |auto=stub), in conjunction with |class=stub – as Stub-Class because it uses a stub template
Use of the above values (or value combinations) with this parameter populates Category:Automatically assessed biography articles.
Additional categories will be populated, if one or more work groups are specified.
Work groupsedit
a&e-work-group – set |a&e-work-group=yes if the article is supported by the arts and entertainment work group.
This parameter populates Category:Arts and entertainment work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (arts and entertainment) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
a&e-priority (only used if |a&e-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within the arts and entertainment work group
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (arts and entertainment) articles by importance.
If the article is about an actor or filmmaker, please use |filmbio-work-group=yes instead; if the article is about a musician, please use |musician-work-group=yes instead. Note:setting either|filmbio-work-group=yesor|musician-work-group=yeswill cause|a&e-work-group=yesto be ignored.
filmbio-work-group – set |filmbio-work-group=yes if the article is supported by WikiProject Actors and Filmmakers.
This parameter populates Category:Actors and filmmakers work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (actors and filmmakers) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
filmbio-priority (only used if |filmbio-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within WikiProject Actors and Filmmakers
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (actors and filmmakers) articles by importance.
military-work-group – set |military-work-group=yes if the article is supported by the military biography work group.
This parameter populates Category:Military biography work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (military) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
military-priority (only used if |military-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within the military biography work group
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (military) articles by importance.
musician-work-group – set |musician-work-group=yes if the article is supported by WikiProject Musicians.
This parameter populates Category:Musicians work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (musicians) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
musician-priority (only used if |musician-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within WikiProject Musicians
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (musicians) articles by importance.
peerage-work-group – set |peerage-work-group=yes if the article is supported by WikiProject Peerage and Baronetage.
This parameter populates Category:Peerage and Baronetage work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (peerage) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
peerage-priority (only used if |peerage-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within WikiProject Peerage and Baronetage
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (peerage) articles by importance.
politician-work-group – set |politician-work-group=yes if the article is supported by the politics and government work group.
This parameter populates Category:Politics and government work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (politics and government) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
politician-priority (only used if |politician-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within the politics and government work group
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (politics and government) articles by importance.
royalty-work-group – set |royalty-work-group=yes if the article is supported by WikiProject Royalty and Nobility.
This parameter populates Category:Royalty work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (royalty) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
royalty-priority (only used if |royalty-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within WikiProject Royalty and Nobility
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (royalty) articles by importance.
s&a-work-group – set |s&a-work-group=yes if the article is supported by the science and academia work group.
This parameter populates Category:Science and academia work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (science and academia) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
s&a-priority (only used if |s&a-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within the science and academia work group
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (science and academia) articles by importance.
sports-work-group – set |sports-work-group=yes if the article is supported by the sports and games work group.
This parameter populates Category:Sports and games work group articles, and the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (sports and games) articles by quality based upon the |class= parameter.
sports-priority (only used if |sports-work-group=yes is set; uses the same values as |importance=) – Importance rating within the sports and games work group
This importance rating populates the relevant subcategory of Category:Biography (sports and games) articles by importance.
Maintenanceedit
attention – set |attention=yes if the article needs immediate attention from experienced editors. Use only if another parameter does not cover the need for attention; this should be used sparingly. It is strongly encouraged to also add a section to the talk page explaining what needs attention.
This parameter populates Category:Biography articles needing attention.
|needs-discography= Answer yes, if the article needs a discography section, otherwise remove this line.
This parameter populates Category:Musicians work group articles needing discographies, and can only be used if |musician-work-group=yes.
|needs-filmography= Answer yes, if the article needs a filmography section, otherwise remove this line.
This parameter populates Category:Actors and filmmakers work group articles needing filmographies, and can only be used if |filmbio-work-group=yes.
needs-infobox – set |needs-infobox=yes if the article needs an infobox. Remember that infoboxes are not suitable for all articles, and can overwhelm short articles.
This parameter populates Category:Biography articles without infoboxes.
|needs-photo= Answer yes to request that a photograph or picture of the subject be added to the article, otherwise remove this line.
This parameter populates Category:Wikipedia requested photographs of people or relevant subcategories if one or more work groups are specified.
past-collaboration – set |past-collaboration=yes (or any non-blank value other than "no", "n", "0" or "¬", such as the dates it was part of the collaboration) if the page was a past project collaboration.
This parameter populates Category:Past Biography collaborations.
peer-review – set |peer-review=yes if the article is currently undergoing a peer review, or to request that the peer review process for this page should be begun.
This parameter populates Category:Requests for Biography peer review.
old-peer-review – set |old-peer-review=yes if the article has had a peer review which is now archived.
This parameter populates Category:Old requests for Biography peer review.
title – if the peer review page exists but is not at Wikipedia:WikiProject Biography/Peer review/{{SUBJECTPAGENAME}}, set this parameter; i.e. if the peer review page is Wikipedia:WikiProject Biography/Peer review/Foobar, set |title=Foobar
Invalid combinations of |peer-review=|old-peer-review= and |title= will place the page in Category:Biography articles with incorrect peer review or A-Class tagging .
|A-Class= Answer pass if the article has passed an A-Class review, or fail if the article has failed a review, otherwise remove this line.
|A-Class=pass populates Category:Successful requests for biography A-Class review.
|A-Class=fail populates Category:Failed requests for biography A-Class review.
Please note that the A-Class review department of WikiProject Biography is currently inactive. This parameter cannot be used to request a new review.
Listasedit
listas – This parameter, which is the equivalent of the DEFAULTSORT sortkey that should be placed on all biographical articles, is a sortkey for the article talk page (e.g. for John Doe, use |listas=Doe, John so that the talk page will show up in the D's and not the J's of the various assessment and administrative categories). This is important because it is one source used by those who set DEFAULTSORT on the article; consider also setting the DEFAULTSORT for the article when setting this parameter. For more information about this, please see Wikipedia:Categorization of people § Ordering names in a category. If the article is using {{WikiProject banner shell}} then it is preferable to add |listas= to that template instead of a project banner template. Putting the parameter on more than one template is not required.
If left undefined, this parameter populates Category:Biography articles without listas parameter.
Specialedit
The following parameters should not normally be used:
category – set |category=no if, and only if, a banner is being used for demonstration or testing purposes, to prevent unnecessary or undesirable categorization. Otherwise, omit this parameter.
core – set |core=yes if, and only if, the article is listed at Wikipedia:WikiProject Biography/Core biographies.
This parameter populates the categories listed here.
Aliasesedit
The parameter |baronets-work-group= is recognised as an alias for |peerage-work-group=. If both |peerage-work-group= and |baronets-work-group= are present, |baronets-work-group= is ignored.
The parameter |baronets-priority= is recognised as an alias for |peerage-priority=. If both |peerage-priority= and |baronets-priority= are present, |baronets-priority= is ignored.
The parameter |military-task-force= is recognised as an alias for |military-work-group=. If both |military-work-group= and |military-task-force= are present, |military-task-force= is ignored.
Usage with WikiProject banner shelledit
If this template is placed within {{WikiProject banner shell}}, the following parameters should be specified there instead:
|class=
|living=
|blpo=
|activepol=
|listas=
Tracking categoryedit
Category:Pages using WikiProject Biography with unknown parameters (0)
See alsoedit
{{BLP}}
TemplateDataedit
TemplateData
This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:WikiProject Biography in articles based on its TemplateData.
TemplateData for WikiProject Biography
Talk page banner for WikiProject Biography
Template parameters
This template prefers inline formatting of parameters.
Parameter
Description
Type
Status
Living?
livingblpBLP
Whether or not the person is living. Set to one of: ['yes', 'no']. Required (unless specified in {{WikiProject banner shell}})
Auto value
no
Unknown
suggested
class
class
no description
Unknown
suggested
listas
listas
no description
Unknown
suggested
A&E work group
a&e-work-group
Within the scope of the arts and entertainment work group. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for A&E work group
a&e-priority
Priority for the arts and entertainment work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
Filmbio work group
filmbio-work-group
Within the scope of the Actors and Filmmakers work group. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for A&E work group
filmbio-priority
Priority for the arts and entertainment work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
Musician work group
musician-work-group
Within the scope of Musicians work group. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for filmbio work group
musician-priority
Priority for the Actors and Filmmakers work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
Peerage work group
peerage-work-groupbaronets-work-group
Within the scope of the WikiProject Peerage and Baronetage. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for WikiProject Peerage and Baronetage
peerage-prioritybaronets-priority
Priority for the WikiProject Peerage and Baronetage. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
military-work-group
military-work-groupmilitary-task-force
no description
Auto value
String
optional
Priority for military work group
military-priority
Priority for the military biography work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
Politician work group
politician-work-group
Within the scope of the politics and government work group. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for politician work group
politician-priority
Priority for the politics and government work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
Royalty work group
royalty-work-group
Within the scope of the WikiProject Royalty and Nobility. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for royalty work group
royalty-priority
Priority for the WikiProject Royalty and Nobility. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
S&A work group
s&a-work-group
Within the scope of the science and academia work group. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for s&a work group
s&a-priority
Priority for the science and academia work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
Sports work group
sports-work-group
Within the scope of the sports and games work group. Allowed values: ['yes']
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Priority for sports work group
sports-priority
Priority for the sports and games work group. Allowed values are: ['Top', 'High', 'Mid', 'Low', 'NA']
Auto value
Unknown
optional
A-Class
A-Class
no description
Unknown
optional
Currently active politician?
activepol
Whether or not this politician is currently active. Set to one of: ['yes', 'no'] (unless specified in {{WikiProject banner shell}})
Boolean
optional
Needs immediate attention?
attention
Indicate that the article needs immediate attention. Set to ['yes'], otherwise remove parameter.
Default
no
Example
yes
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
auto
auto
no description
Unknown
optional
BLP others
blpo
Indicates that the subject of the article is not a living person, but the article contains sensitive information about other living persons. Set to ['yes'] (unless specified in {{WikiProject banner shell}}), otherwise remove parameter.
Default
no
Example
yes
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Needs discography?
needs-discography
Indicate that the article needs a discography section. Set to ['yes'], otherwise remove parameter.
Default
no
Example
yes
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Needs filmography?
needs-filmography
Indicate that the article needs a filmography section. Set to ['yes'], otherwise remove parameter.
Default
no
Example
yes
Auto value
yes
Boolean
optional
Needs infobox?
needs-infobox
Indicate that the article needs an infobox. Remember that infoboxes are not suitable for all articles, and can overwhelm short articles. Set to ['yes'], otherwise remove parameter.