Template:Term/doc

Usage
The template is used in structured glossaries to create definition list terms that are properly structured, have  semantic value, and can be linked to as if independent sections.

Basic usage:

""

If the term contains the " " character (equals sign), the syntax requires numbered parameters (this is a limitation of MediaWiki's template parsing code; it is a not a bug in the template):

""

Wiki-styling and linking the term
If the term is styled with wikimarkup, linked, or otherwise altered inside the template, that term must also be re-specified in unstyled form as a second parameter. Failing to do so will cause the template to malfunction, since it must have a "clean" term name to use as the   of the element, for linking purposes. Style cannot be applied around the template, either, as it is a container for content (the term), not content itself (and doing so will produce invalid markup that will have unpredictable results depending upon browser):
 * Correct:
 * Wrong:
 * Wrong:

For the same reasons that links to other pages are discouraged in headings, links are also discouraged in glossary terms:
 * Deprecated:
 * Preferred:, and use of in the definition to link to esprit de corps.

Again, as with the first parameter (the term) itself, if the " " character (equals sign) is used in this second parameter, the syntax requires that the parameter be explicitly numbered:

""

The template can also be used, e.g. to provide the plural of the term (the most common usage), an alternative spelling, the old name of an entry that was linked to but has since changed, or a shortcut link anchor name:

""

As with styled terms, the second parameter must be used to provide the "bare" term. It is not necessary to add the term itself to the template when using. By contrast, when using semicolon-delimited terms in unstructured glossaries, the term does need to be added as an anchor explicitly if link anchorage is desired (which is usually the case):

""

(Strictly speaking, this fact has nothing to do with this template, but may be of use to editors who are converting from one glossary style to the other.)

Languages
A language can also be specified; only use this if the term is non-English. I.e., if you would italicize the word as a foreign word, you can also specify the language. It is not strictly necessary to use lang at all if the definition already explains the origin.

If used, the language must be specified in ISO 369-1 ( xx ) or ISO 369-1 + ISO 3166 alpha-2 ( xx - YY ) code form:

It can also be used to distinguish between two synonymous terms in different varieties of English that are given a single definition, but editors should also draw this distinction in the prose of the definition or terms, as most users will not directly see the lang parameter's value. Example:

""

The lang parameter must not be used if the origin of the term is explained in the term itself, e.g. with a parenthetical:

")"

This is because the lang parameter applies to the entire term as specified, including any such explanatory note, which would necessarily be in English on en.WikiQueer, not in the language specified in the lang parameter.

Apply CSS styles to the term
The style parameter will pass CSS styling on to the  element.

Example
This shows both a very simple and a rather complex instance:



applesnorkel: Definition of term 1. arglefarst: 1. Beginning of first definition of term 2 "Block quotation in first definition of term 2." Conclusion of first definition of term 2. 2. Second definition of term 2.

Technical details
What this template does on the technical level is that it wrapps the term in the  HTML element to semantically mark the term as a defined term, and puts this marked-up content inside a   definition list term element, with CSS.