If the parameter "sortable=yes" is specified, the template generates invisible text that will cause the output to work in sortabletables, at the cost of causing problems for visually-impaired readers. Compare "Col 1" and "Col 2" in the following table:
This template should not be used in citation templates such as Citation Style 1 and Citation Style 2, because it includes markup that will pollute the COinS metadata they produce; see Wikipedia:COinS. The CS1 and CS2 templates have limited support for c. as an abbreviation in the date fields.
Using the date itself as parameter (for example, "{{circa|1956}}", giving "c. 1956"), web browsers do not insert a line break anywhere in the string. By contrast, "{{circa}} 1956" allows a line break between the "c." and the number. Also, with the date as a parameter a thinner space is used with many browsers:
"c. 1956" is generated by "{{circa|1956}}".
"c. 1956" is generated by "{{circa}} 1956".
If the parameter |i= is set to a non-empty value, the "c." is put in italics: for example, "{{circa|i=''}}" generates "c." instead of "c.".
If the parameter |lk= (for "link") is set as "|lk=no" or "|lk=off", the abbreviation is rendered as "c.", without a wikilink or abbreviation element. If it is set to "|lk=abbr", it is rendered with the abbreviation element but without the wikilink. If it is set to "|lk=yes" or "|lk=on", it is rendered as "c.", with a wikilink to the circa article and not an abbreviation element. Otherwise, the abbreviation is marked with the "<abbr>" element, as in "c.", and linked to the circa article. The lk parameter can be used to avoid overuse of "<abbr>" or overlinking when this template is used repeatedly in the body of an article. For example:
[[Dionysius Exiguus]] was born {{circa|470}}, lived in Rome from {{circa|lk=no|500}}, and died {{circa|lk=no|544}}.
→ Dionysius Exiguus was born c. 470, lived in Rome from c. 500, and died c. 544.
If the parameter "cap=yes" is specified, the result starts with a capital letter.
If the parameter "sortable=yes" is specified, the template generates invisible text that will cause the output to work in sortabletables, at the cost of causing problems for visually-impaired readers. Compare "Col 1" and "Col 2" in the following table:
"Col 1" uses {{Circa/doc}} 1510, and does not sort correctly. "Col 2" uses {{Circa/doc|1510|sortable=yes}}, and does sort correctly. This works because {{Circa/doc|1510|sortable=yes}} inserts an invisible span element at the start of the cell: <span style="display:none;">1510</span>. Although it is not rendered, it is still seen by the sorting code and makes sorting work. The downside of this approach is that the invisible text is still rendered by screen readers that are used by visually impaired readers, and by text browsers such as Lynx, so the table will become garbled for readers who are using assistive technology or text browsers.
If 'yes' or 'on', links to 'circa' article. If 'no' or 'off', does not title 'circa'.
Example
no
String
optional
end year
2
no description
String
optional
Baz
1956
1956
"Col 1" uses {{Circa/doc}} 1510, and does not sort correctly. "Col 2" uses {{Circa/doc|1510|sortable=yes}}, and does sort correctly. This works because {{Circa/doc|1510|sortable=yes}} inserts an invisible span element at the start of the cell: <span style="display:none;">1510</span>. Although it is not rendered, it is still seen by the sorting code and makes sorting work. The downside of this approach is that the invisible text is still rendered by screen readers that are used by visually impaired readers, and by text browsers such as Lynx, so the table will become garbled for readers who are using assistive technology or text browsers.
