Template:Plain link
 | This template is used on approximately 159,000 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 in system messages. Changes to it can cause immediate changes to the Wikipedia user interface. To avoid large-scale disruption, any changes should first be tested in this template's /sandbox or /testcases subpage, or in your own user space. The tested changes can then be added in one single edit to this template. Please discuss any changes on the talk page before implementing them. |
This template will allow you to create a local or interwiki link (such as a link to the history of a page) on a page without having the 
follow the link. This can be used, for example, when internal or interwiki links appear as external links. See Help:URL#URLs on other Wikimedia projects for more information.
Caution
When you link to a Wikipedia or other Wikimedia project URL, omit the preceding "http:", or "https:", so that the URL begins with "//". This allows users to use the protocol they're currently using.
You can use {{fullurl}} magicword to generate URLs to Wikipedia pages.
Also this template is not suitable for external links, since it suppresses displaying the exeternal link small icon (
); for external links, use {{URL}}
Examples
{{Plain link|url=//www.wikipedia.org}}gives [1]{{Plain link|//www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia}}gives Wikipedia{{Plain link|//www.wikipedia.org | Wikipedia}}gives [2]{{Plain link|http://www.google.co.uk|Google}}gives [3]
Note that if your url or link title contains an equals sign = you must use named parameters:
{{Plain link|url=//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Equals_sign&oldid=282228764|name="=" }}gives [4]
Redirects
To be more concise, you can use {{scp}} or {{plnk}} and numbers as parameter names, e.g.:
{{scp|1=//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Equals_sign&oldid=282228764|2="="}}gives the same [5]{{plnk|1=//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Equals_sign&oldid=282228764|2="="}}gives the same [6]
TemplateData
TemplateData for Plain link
Use this template to add a local or interwiki link that would otherwise show a box and arrow icon next to the link without the icon.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| URL | url URL 1 | URL of the link. For Wikimedia links, use the format "//example.com". This allows users to use the protocol they're currently using. | URL | optional |
| Text | name NAME 1 | Text to be linked | String | optional |
See also
- Template:Querylink, generates a plain link for Wikipedia pages with extended parameters
- Template:Plain, a similar template that keeps the URL written out
- Template:Diff
- Template:Oldid
- Template:URL
