Basics of Wikipedia
Explore the essentials of Wikipedia: why Wikipedia is considered one of the world's most important websites, who edits and approves content, what its main rules are, and what defines a reliable source. Get a foundational understanding to help you understand how it works and make decisions accordingly.
Why does Wikipedia matter?
Wikipedia is one of the most important and popular websites in the world, consistently ranking among the top 10 most visited sites and receiving nearly 7 billion visits each month.* For many internet users, it is the go-to source for basic fact-checking, and millions of students rely on it to supplement their formal education.
As a unique resource, Wikipedia provides free access to information on an almost limitless range of topics. It is the largest repository of human knowledge in history, with nearly 6.9 million articles in English alone and more than 300 language editions. Inspired by traditional encyclopedias like the Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia covers far more topics and updates much more frequently than was ever possible before.
What sets Wikipedia apart from other major websites is its volunteer-driven model of knowledge production. Unlike other top sites run by billion-dollar companies, Wikipedia is maintained by a global network of volunteers who write its articles and manage its governance. The nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia's servers, plays no role in its content.
*Figures last updated October 2024.
Who edits Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is maintained by a global, volunteer-driven community known as Wikipedians. There are no formal barriers to joining this group—anyone with a user account who makes meaningful contributions and believes in Wikipedia's mission of organizing the world's knowledge can become a Wikipedian.
Wikipedians contribute to the site for many reasons, and in many ways. Some are motivated to share their expertise, combat misinformation, or address perceived gaps in the platform’s content. Some edit infrequently, while others edit almost every day. Many focus on creating new content, while others prefer tasks like archiving or maintaining existing articles. Others write software to help manage the site or organize activities offline, rarely editing the site itself.
Demographic surveys show that Wikipedia editors are predominantly male, often based in North America and Western Europe, and many hold advanced degrees, frequently working in or around academia. Editors tend to be either younger or older than the general population, likely due to the availability of time—students and retirees may have more flexibility compared to early to mid-career adults, especially those with children.
Who approves changes on Wikipedia?
Wikipedia operates differently from traditional publications, with no formal approval process or publishing schedule. Anyone can click the edit button and make any change to almost any page at any time, but just the same, anyone can undo any change at any time. Getting edits to stick requires understanding Wikipedia’s rules on content, sources, and formatting.
Veteran editors actively monitor the site for changes that violate guidelines, and automated tools, like bots, help revert vandalism or other problematic edits. Filters are also in place to catch inappropriate content, such as offensive language, soon after it appears.
While nearly all pages are modifiable, some have restrictions. Some Wikipedians, known as administrators (or admins), have special powers to lock pages and block disruptive users. "Edit-protected" pages limit changes by unregistered or new users, and a small number of pages may be fully locked, often due to vandalism or "edit-warring". These protections are typically temporary and remain in place until disputes are resolved.
Can anyone really edit Wikipedia?
Yes! Wikipedia is open to anyone who wants to contribute. However, it’s important for new contributors to understand Wikipedia's mission and familiarize themselves with its policies and guidelines around content and editor behavior. Failing to do so can result in being blocked from editing—which would change the answer, unfortunately, to no.
While a user account isn’t required to make edits, creating one provides access to additional tools, like the ability to create new articles. It also lets you choose a unique username, which may or may not be tied to your real-life identity. If you are new to Wikipedia, your account includes a "sandbox" for making test edits, and the Teahouse is a friendly place to get advice from more experienced editors.
Since you’re reading this on the website of a consultancy that offers paid editing services, it’s important to note that editing articles where you have a personal or professional interest should be avoided to prevent conflicts of interest. Every edit is permanently logged in the article's edit history, so be careful!
What are Wikipedia’s main rules?
At its core, Wikipedia is based on a set of fundamental principles known as the Five Pillars. These precepts establish that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, committed to being a free resource, maintaining a neutral point of view, promoting respect and civility, and encouraging flexibility to improve the project.
Building on these pillars, Wikipedia has two basic types of rules: mandatory policies, which define the project’s scope and govern editor behavior, and widely-observed guidelines, which primarily focus on the specifics of editorial content.
Behavioral policies and guidelines include expectations that editors "assume good faith" in others' contributions, avoid disruptive editing, and disclose financial interests related to topics they edit. Since it is impossible to write rules about every possible situation, Wikipedia relies on consensus-building to address gaps in the rules.
Content policies clarify that Wikipedia is not a dictionary, directory, blog, or "indiscriminate collection of information." Original research is prohibited—only previously published information is allowed. Topics must meet notability thresholds to merit standalone pages, reliable sources must verify all information, and special care is required when handling content that could affect the reputations of living people.
What is a reliable source?
To ensure Wikipedia's integrity and accuracy, all content must be independently verifiable, requiring editors to cite credible third-party sources. A related policy is that editors cannot contribute original research; all information must have been previously published in reputable, editor-reviewed publications.
Determining what counts as a reliable source is a complex and often contested matter. Since Wikipedia editors are not required to prove their personal expertise before editing in any given topic, they defer to the authority of experts and professionals whose job or vocation incentivizes accuracy.
As a result, reliable sources commonly include academic and peer-reviewed journals, books by reputable publishers, and established news organizations like major newspapers and magazines. While a publication need not be nonpartisan to be reliable, those focused on reporting rather than opinion are generally more trusted. In certain cases, government documents and work by recognized subject matter experts may also be used.
Even generally reliable sources may publish some material Wikipedia prefers not to use. For instance, newspaper opinion pieces may lack the fact-checking of staff articles, and some sources may be reliable in certain areas but not others. Many outlets now feature unpaid "contributors" whose writing is not afforded the same credibility as professional journalists. Sensationalist media like tabloids, and self-published sources such as blogs and social media, are generally not considered reliable.
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