Wikipedia is the go-to platform when it comes to gathering information on almost anything. Backed by a vast community of contributors, it’s among the most comprehensive sources of knowledge on the internet. However, with its sheer fund of information and the constantly updated pages, it can be challenging to navigate and extract exactly what you’re looking for.
To help you make the most out of Wikipedia, we’ve put together a definitive guide covering everything there is to know about the platform.
The Interface
When you first land on Wikipedia’s homepage, the first thing you’ll see is a search bar. Here, you can search for any topic you’re trying to understand. Once you type in your search query, the site will return a list of relevant entries based on your keyword(s). Alternatively, you can also use the navigation menu to browse through the available topics.
The Basic Structure of a Wikipedia Entry
Every Wikipedia entry follows a basic structure. It starts with an introduction, which provides a brief overview of the topic and what it covers. This is followed by the main body, where the page’s content is displayed in-depth.
The body is divided into sections – or subheadings – that provide a logical grouping of information. For instance, if you’re exploring a celebrity’s page, the subheadings could be their early life, education, career, personal life, and so on. Each of these subheadings will contain relevant information, including text, images, references, and links to further reading on the topic.
Reading a Wikipedia Page
When reading a Wikipedia page, it’s essential to pay attention to the citations. These are links to other sources that back up the information that’s being presented on the page. Additionally, every Wikipedia page has a discussion tab where editors can engage with each other, ask questions, and request changes to the page.
Lastly, make sure to check out the “See Also” section at the bottom of each page. Here, you’ll find links to other pages that are connected to the topic you’re currently exploring, providing you with further reading and potential avenues to explore.
Conclusion
Wikipedia is a remarkable platform. With millions of pages covering almost anything you could think of, it’s an invaluable source of information. By following the few tips outlined here, you’ll be able to navigate the site more efficiently, extract relevant information, and deepen your knowledge on whatever subject you’re exploring.
