Wikipedia:Simple diff and link guide: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Line 1:

{{Wikipedia how to|WP:D&L}}

<!--Please add further tips at [[Wikipedia:Complete diff and link guide]], not here!.-->

{{Template:3-tier diff}}{{Linking and page manipulation|linking and diffs}}

== What are diffs? ==

A '''diff''' is a permanent link to a single edit or set of edits, showing the '''''diff'''''erence between the before and after versions.

==Why use diffs and page section links?==

If you contribute an argument to a page like [[Wikipedia:requests for comment|requests for comment]], [[Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration|requests for arbitration]], or [[WP:ANI|the incidents noticeboard for administrative attention]], it's essential to give evidence for your claims in the form of [[diff]]s and/or other [[WP:LINK|link]]s. Without such evidence, you will be taken less seriously. If you simply claim that "editor X has posted several personal attacks on talkpages" or "editor Y is edit warring on [[George W. Bush]]", you may be ignored, or told "diffs or it didn't happen".

The most useful evidence consists of diffs to '''individual edits''' and links to '''[[help:Section|page section]]s'''. Don't link to entire talkpages, as they are too long and diverse to be helpful. Avoid linking to a [[Wikipedia:Edit history|page history]] or an editor's [[Wikipedia:contributions|contributions]], as those will probably have changed by the time somebody clicks on your link to view them.

==How to harvest a diff==