Retrieved 2024-11-20.
 | This is the template sandbox page for Template:Retrieved (diff). See also the companion subpage for test cases. |
Template documentation| To quickly apply this template with today's date as access date, see Quickfill examples Problems with template use? See Errors and error messages. |
This template implements Citation Style 1 template-like behavior regarding online-retrieval information ("Retrieved ..."), mainly as applied in {{cite web}}. It may be used with citation and external link templates that do not provide retrieval information, such as
and others; it may also complement shortened footnote-producing templates such as {{harvnb}} and similar (see below). The template may accompany other allowable external links when such usage is appropriate. Its application may assist verifiability, however this template is not a tool for validating wikitext or discovering sources, and is not an alternative to citations of online material. Please see § Exceptions for recommended usage exceptions.
This template and its documentation use Citation Style 1 guidelines, with variations. Per common practice, "link" refers to a source's online location and "source" to its online content. The examples use the current date; if the date is not current the page.[a]
- Example:
A [[Brad Pitt]] statement.<ref>{{IMDb name|id=0000093|name=Brad Pitt}}. {{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=2024-11-20}}</ref>
===References===
{{reflist}}- Generates:
Usage
|
Listed by importance |
Syntax and presentation
For basic use, only the full date the source was retrieved is required (|access-date=<fulldate>); it displays after the static text "Retrieved" (see § Access date).
Insert this template next to the prerequisite external link-providing template or when appropriate, after any other allowable external link. Ideally this template's output should immediately follow the external link, allowing for preceding white space as needed; note the editable default for "Retrieved" is to appear capitalized.
Depending on the parameters used, default presentation and formatting elements including static text, white space and additional punctuation may be displayed.
All parameter names must be in lowercase; optional parameters are ignored when they are misspelled or unrecognized. Dependent and conditional parameters are ignored if their prerequisite parameter(s) or conditions are absent.
Copy a blank version from the box above to use. Insert the "|" (pipe) character between each parameter. Delete unused parameters.
The template uses Citation Style 1 presentation mode as the default; it may optionally use Citation Style 2 mode. The template provides limited error handling options.
See § Parameters for important details.[b]
Exceptions
Do not use this template when either the link or the source is inaccessible or unfit for any reason. The template applies only to wikitext-supporting sources (free or restricted)[c] that are retrievable through working, legitimate external links. See Wikipedia:Link rot.
Additionally, the template should not be used when retrieval information is inapplicable, superfluous, or not recommended, such as in External links or Further reading sections, or with templates such as {{official website}}.
In general do not use with stable or static external links e.g. links to online archives or repositories (however, it may be used when accessing online archive snapshots). See Wikipedia:External links.
Quickfill examples: basic usage with today's date autoinserted
The examples below autoinsert today's date[d] in full-date acceptable date formats via the available "quickfill" options. Copy and paste the suitable example code to use. For details, see § Access date. Consider adding parameter access-info when applicable.
All-numeric Year-Month-Day (ISO date) [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=ymd}}{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=iso}}
- Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Day Month Year [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=dmy}}
- Retrieved 20 November 2024.
Month Day, Year [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=mdy}}
- Retrieved November 20, 2024.
Day AbbreviatedMonth Year [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=sdmy}}
- Retrieved 20 Nov 2024.
AbbreviatedMonth Day, Year [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=smdy}}
- Retrieved Nov 20, 2024.
More examples: user-inserted access date, additional options
The examples in this section use the ISO date format (YYYY-MM-DD or Year-Month-Day) to enter access dates; by default they display access dates in the entered format except where stated as "autoformatted" and in the all-parameter example (via parameter df).
Basic usage [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=2024-11-20}}
- Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Basic usage with autoformatted access date display (dmy) [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=2024-11-20 |df=dmy}}
- Retrieved 20 November 2024.
Access information (registration) [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=registration |access-date=2024-11-20}}
. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Source information (version) [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |source-info=Revised |access-date=2024-11-20}}
- Revised. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Source format (image) [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20}}
- (JPEG). Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Online provider information [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=2024-11-20 |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]]}}
- Retrieved 2024-11-20 – via OnlinePublisherName.
Link note [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=2024-11-20 |note=brief link note}}
- Retrieved 2024-11-20 (brief link note).
No terminal punctuation [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-date=2024-11-20 |postscript=none}}
- Retrieved 2024-11-20
Optional presentation mode (Citation Style 2) [info]
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=registration |source-info=revised |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20 |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs2}}
- , revised (JPEG), retrieved 2024-11-20 – via OnlinePublisherName (brief link note)
All parameters
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=registration |nopun=y |source-info=(revised) |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20 |df=dmy |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs2 |postscript=; |err=y}}
- (revised) (JPEG), retrieved 20 November 2024 – via OnlinePublisherName (brief link note);
Parameters
General notes
Dependent parameters and parameter options are described under their prerequisite parameters. Parameter options must be entered in lowercase.
Parameters should provide information specific to the retrieved version of the source or to the specific access link. Do not add an optional parameter if identical information is provided in the source's external link template, full citation, or other reference data (the access date is required regardless of duplication). However, include parameter access-info wherever applicable, as it is relevant to reader decisions regarding retrieval.
Incorrect usage of some parameters may suppress display of related template elements; see parameter descriptions below, and § Errors and error messages.
Requirements and constraints
- Parameter access-date or its alias accessdate is required.
- Parameter df (access date autoformat) is ignored when the access date is "quickfilled".
- Parameter nopun (specific punctuation instance) is dependent on parameter source-info.
Description
Access date
- access-date: This parameter (or its alias accessdate) is required – its omission or incorrect entry will result in an error message and will suppress all other template output. For basic usage include just this parameter; autoinsert today's date or manually enter a full date. Either case requires a date when the external link (a) was successfully accessed and (b) targeted content supporting the related wikitext.[c] Do not wikilink. Displays after the static text "Retrieved". Except in the all-numeric Year-Month-Day (YYYY-MM-DD) format, days should be entered without zero-padding (i.e. 8 October 2024 instead of 08 October 2024); zero-padded days and months are required in the all-numeric format. Use any one of Wikipedia's full-date acceptable date formats, but please select the acceptable format (if any) established in the edited page's citations or references (WP:DATEUNIFY). The ancillary optional parameter df may be added to autoformat the display of manually entered access dates
- Autoinsert today's date: Enter one of the "quickfill" options[d] [examples]
|access-date=ymdor|access-date=iso– displays as the all-numeric Year-Month-Day (YYYY-MM-DD or ISO date).|access-date=dmy– displays as Day Month Year.|access-date=mdy– displays as Month Day, Year.|access-date=sdmy– displays as Day Month Year but with "short" (abbreviated) month name.|access-date=smdy– displays as Month Day, Year but with "short" (abbreviated) month name.
- Manually insert a date: Enter a full date [examples]
- Partial access dates (missing any of day, month or four-digit year) are strongly discouraged; they produce inaccurate access date display, or suppress it with an error message.
- Access dates that do not conform to one of the allowed full-date formats (also described in the quickfill options list) will generate an error message.
- Tomorrow's date will display as access date without error; access dates that are 2 or more days in the future will result in an error message instead.[e]
- Some formatting errors may be avoided by using the recommended parameter df.
Access information
- access-info: If the online source has access requirements or restrictions use one of the options below to add an indicative inline icon (includes tooltip); see applicability detail in § General notes above. This parameter's value displays first, before any other normal template output. Ideally it should display immediately after the external link and a non-breaking space. Invalid options will silently suppress the inline icon/tooltip; if error-handling parameter err is used an error message will be displayed; [example]
- Options:
|access-info=registration– free registration is required; displays a gray lock icon.|access-info=limited– free access is limited e.g. based on number of views, or is time-limited, or is only partially free; displays the same gray lock icon as registration, but with different tooltip text.|access-info=subscription– paid subscription is required (WP:PAYWALL); displays a red lock icon. When set, the edited page will be added to Category:Pages containing links to subscription-only content.
Source information, link note
- source-info: Use for additional citable information specific to the retrieved version of the source, only if necessary for clarity. Displays after the output of parameter access-info if it exists, or first if it doesn't; [example]
- nopun: source-info-dependent parameter. Set
|nopun=y(any other input is ignored). Removes the default presentation mode punctuation autoinserted between the outputs of parameters access-info and source-info, leaving a single space as their separator; [example].
- nopun: source-info-dependent parameter. Set
- note: Use to add a brief relevant note specific to the accessed link. May be wikilinked. Displays in parentheses after the access date, or the output of parameter via if it exists; [example].
Additional information: source format, online provider
- format: Use only when the retrieved version has special format requirements or is in a different format from the original. May be wikilinked. Displays within parentheses, before the static text "Retrieved"; [example].
- via: Use to cite the online provider of the source’s accessed version if other than the original provider or publisher. May be wikilinked. The parameter's output includes the leading static text "via" preceded by a spaced en dash and followed by a space. Displays after the access date; [example].
Display options: date format, presentation mode, terminal punctuation
- df: Use this parameter to autoformat the output of parameter access-date. Works only when the access date is manually entered. Will correctly display it in a full-date acceptable date format according to the options below (partial dates are not supported). When the access date is quickfilled this parameter is silently ignored; it is also silently ignored when an invalid option is used. Both cases prevent autoformatting; if error-handling parameter err is included, relevant error messages will be displayed. Use of df is recommended when applicable – please follow any acceptable date-display format established in the edited page’s citations and/or references (WP:DATEUNIFY); [example]
- Options:
|df=options are identical to parameter access-date "quickfill" options in name and function (see there for descriptions) [ ymd/iso | dmy | mdy | sdmy | smdy ]
- Note: Parameter df affects the output of parameter access-date; ambiguous input in access-date – such as a partial date – may be misinterpreted, producing unintended results.
- mode: Use to change the template presentation mode, which determines autoinserted element separators, terminal punctuation and certain capitalization; the default is Citation Style 1 mode. Invalid options silently suppress mode-related punctuation; if error-handling parameter err is used, the static text "Retrieved" will also be suppressed and an error message will be displayed. To override default terminal punctuation regardless of mode use parameter postscript; [example]
- Options:
|mode=cs2– insert to switch to Citation Style 2 mode: the separator may include white space and/or a non-wrapping comma ( , ) or en dash ( – ), terminal punctuation is omitted, and the static text "retrieved" is all-lowercase.|mode=cs1– the default presentation mode; enter to explicitly state, or to switch back to, the Citation Style 1 mode: the separator may include white space and/or a non-wrapping period ( . ) or en dash, terminal punctuation is a non-wrapping period, and the static text "Retrieved" is capitalized.
- Note: Depending on other included parameters, mode's effect may display first, either as an error message or in the initial-letter case of "Retrieved".
- postscript: Use to replace the presentation mode's default terminal punctuation; insert desired value, or set
|postscript=noneto remove terminal punctuation altogether; [example].
Error message handling
- err: Set
|err=y(any other input is ignored) to display all error messages produced by optional-parameter errors. Handling of individual or per-parameter errors is not supported. Depending on the parameter(s) in error, using err may cause the relevant error message(s) to display before any other template output. See also § Errors and error messages; [examples].
Use case: Short citations
Short citations (WP:SFN) may include external links as in-source locations and be subject to the same retrieval information guidelines applying to full citations.[f] This template may be used to complement select short citation-producing templates, e.g. {{harvnb}}. See Template:Harvnb § Adding a URL for the page or location.
In the example below, {{harvnb}} output is followed by a non-breaking space (via {{nbsp}}) to provide continuity and context to the output of {{retrieved}}.[g]
- Example:
A wikitext statement.<ref>{{harvnb|AuthorLast|2024|pp=[https://www.example.com 23–24]}}{{nbsp}}{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=subscription |access-date=2024-11-20}}</ref>
===Notes===
{{reflist}}
===References===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |author-last=AuthorLast |date=November 2024 |title=ArticleTitle |journal=JournalName |issue=5 |pages=21–35 |url=https://example.com |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-11-20}}
{{refend}}- Generates:
Notes
- ^ AuthorLast 2024, pp. 23–24
. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
References
- AuthorLast (November 2024). "ArticleTitle". JournalName (5): 21–35. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
Errors and error messages
Error messages generated by access date-related errors are always displayed, and the edited page is added to Category:Template Retrieved errors. If parameter access-date/accessdate is absent, mislabeled, or empty the error is fatal and will suppress all other template output.
Errors related to optional parameters are silent by default; parameter err may be used to display error messages for parameters access-info, df and mode. No messages are generated by parameter nopun and err errors. The remaining optional parameters have no defined error state.
Error conditions and/or error messages may suppress display of related template elements.
There is no error handling for individual optional parameters; error messages display for all message-enabled optional parameters, or none.
Examples
Examples involving optional-parameter errors use the all-parameters example from § More examples above.[g]
Access date information is missing or not entered correctly (parameter name)
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=subscription |date=2024-11-20 |via=OnlinePublisherName}}
Access date format is not valid (missing punctuation)
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=subscription |access-date=Nov 20 2024 |via=OnlinePublisherName}}
Access date is partial or incorrect
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=subscription |access-date=11-2024 |via=OnlinePublisherName}}
Access date is beyond tomorrow's date
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=subscription |access-date=2024-11-22 |via=OnlinePublisherName}}
Access information option not valid
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=free |nopun=y |source-info=(revised) |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20 |df=dmy |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs2 |postscript=;}}
- (revised) (JPEG), retrieved 20 November 2024 – via OnlinePublisherName (brief link note);
Access information option not valid, and error messages on
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=free |nopun=y |source-info=(revised) |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20 |df=dmy |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs2 |postscript=; |err=y}}
Access date autoformatting is superfluous, and error messages on
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=registration |nopun=y |source-info=(revised) |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=iso |df=dmy |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs2 |postscript=; |err=y}}
Access date autoformatting option not valid, and error messages on
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=registration |nopun=y |source-info=(revised) |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20 |df=US |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs2 |postscript=; |err=y}}
Presentation mode option not valid, and error messages on
{{retrieved/sandbox |access-info=registration |nopun=y |source-info=(revised) |format=[[JPEG]] |access-date=2024-11-20 |df=dmy |via=[[OnlinePublisherName]] |note=brief link note |mode=cs |postscript=; |err=y}}
See also
- Template:Access-date – a wrapper of this template, quickly provides only the access date and accepts the quickfill options
- Template:Dead link – a maintenance template for dead or inaccessible links
TemplateData
TemplateData for Retrieved
This template adds online-retrieval information ("Retrieved ...") to external link templates that do not provide such facility; for additional use cases and details see the template's documentation. Parameters listed by order of importance
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access date | access-date accessdate | The full date the external link (a) was successfully accessed, and (b) targeted relevant wikitext-supporting content. Do not wikilink. To autoinsert today's date enter a quickfill option (all-lowercase): 'ymd' or 'iso' for all-numeric Year-Month-Day; 'dmy' for Day Month Year; 'mdy' for Month Day, Year; 'sdmy' for Day Month Year with abbreviated month name; 'smdy' for Month Day, Year with abbreviated month name (omit the single quote marks). Otherwise enter a full date, displays as entered; 'Access date format' may be used to autoformat the entered date | Date | required |
| Access information | access-info | Recommended when the source has access restrictions. Select the relevant list option; it displays first, as a related lock icon
| Content | optional |
| Access date format | df | Access date display-autoformat options for manually entered dates; they are identical to 'Access date' quickfill options in name and function. Deselect this parameter when using autoinserted access dates; recommended otherwise. Select one of the list options
| String | suggested |
| Source information | source-info | Use only when additional citable information specific to the retrieved version is needed for clarity; displays after 'Access information' if it exists, or first if it doesn't | String | optional |
| Source format | format | Use only if the retrieved version is in different format than the original, or has specific format requirements; may be wikilinked, displays in parentheses before "Retrieved" | String | optional |
| Online provider | via | Name of the accessed version's online provider if other than the publisher; may be wikilinked, displays after the access date | String | optional |
| Link note | note | When required for clarification, add a brief note specific to the accessed link, may be wikilinked; displays in parentheses after the access date (or 'Online provider' if it exists) | String | optional |
| Presentation mode | mode | Presentation mode affecting static text, parameter separators and terminal punctuation. Default is Citation Style 1 mode; from the list, select 'cs2' for Citation Style 2, or 'cs1' to switch back to, or to explicitly state the default
| String | optional |
| Terminal punctuation | postscript | Insert desired value to replace the presentation mode's default terminal punctuation, which is either a period (mode 'cs1') or nothing (mode 'cs2'); to remove terminal punctuation altogether enter 'none' without the quote marks | String | optional |
| Error message display | err | Displays all error messages related to non-required parameters; may suppress display of error-related template elements. Preset to 'y' (true). Deselect this parameter if not desired
| Boolean | optional |
| Source info punctuation | nopun | When applicable, use to suppress the autoinserted punctuation (but not the space) between 'Access information' and 'Source information'. Requires 'Source information'. Preset to 'y' (true). Deselect this parameter if not desired
| Boolean | optional |
Footnotes
- ^ Examples use this page's current timestamp to format dates (for en:, at UTC+00:00 as of 2024-10-15[update]). Tomorrow's date may temporarily display as a result, depending on the local timezone, time of day and Wikipedia system settings.
- ^ Rudimentary description of the template's logic may be found in Template talk:Retrieved § Logic (sandbox).
- ^ a b Retrieval information must apply to the specific wikitext (WP:TSI). The retrieved source's overall relevance to the edited page's subject, or its reliability, is beyond the template's scope.
- ^ a b Today's date is substituted using the relevant parser function.
- ^ The parser treats timestamps up to and including 38 hours beyond the current UTC datestamp, i.e. the 24-hour-day plus the maximum forward UTC offset, as "today" based on the current (en:) system timezone setting.
- ^ The full citation's retrieval information may not apply to short citations. Specific in-source locations may have different access and/or retrieval requirements. Depending on either the full or short citation's access date, the state of the respective external links may vary. In addition the short citation's text-source integrity and accessibility may depend on specific information.
- ^ a b Categories are suppressed in examples that would otherwise categorize this page.