Template layout

This article covers the general layout for a standard template page on Wikia.

Procedure
Put the template code on the main page, and put all documentation and categories on a /doc subpage.

This means that updates to the documentation do not result in large numbers of pointless template updates across the wiki, and the template itself can be protected if necessary (without protecting the documentation).

Sample pages

 * Template page
 * If you want to use a documentation page (/doc)

Template code Any categories to be inserted into articles by the template


 * If you don't want to require a documentation page (no /doc)


 * Description
 * This template is used to do something.


 * Syntax
 * Type  somewhere.


 * Sample output
 * gives...

Template code Any categories to be inserted into articles by the template -Optionally- Any categories to organize the template itself
 * Template

Note that, depending on the template, you may need to close a table or div tag just before documentation is inserted (within the noinclude tags).

The line break is also useful as it helps visually separate the documentation template code from previous code.


 * Template/doc page
 * Description
 * This template is used to do something.


 * Dependencies
 * CSS, JS, image or other template dependencies.
 * Syntax
 * Type  somewhere.


 * Sample output
 * gives...

Any categories for the template itself

You can also click on the "writing some" link in the message "This template currently doesn't have any documentation! Help out by writing some." (displayed by Documentation if no documentation has been written yet), which will give you a preload that you can then fill out.

Use any or all of the above description/syntax/sample output sections. You may also want to add "see also" or further usage information sections.

Note that the above example also uses the Template:T template.

Why not use a separate documentation subpage?
While using a documentation subpage (Template:templatename/doc) has become standard practice, it is really only better when the documentation is large or has many examples. For smaller, simpler templates with light documentation needs, including the documentation on the template page itself can be faster and more self-contained. Remember, using a /doc subpage for documentation usually implies the need to use the Documentation template which automatically adds a dependency on another template (which ironically, is usually undocumented). Also, the use of categories can be far more confusing when using a transcluded /doc subpage in a template page.

Templates used by this layout
Be sure to add these so the template coding will work properly.
 * Template:Documentation - for the documentation box
 * Template:T - to link to the various templates