Thread:VisualEditor/Feedback/Links/reply

VisualEditor doesn't "think" in wikitext at all. This is done by Parsoid, whose sole purpose is to turn wikitext into HTML and back again.

The reason that Parsoid chooses to turn the HTML into that style of wikitext is because editors sometimes want to italicize part of the link label, rather than the whole thing. This: Link is the minimum number of characters for typing, but you still have to pipe the label if you want Long label.

The options, then are:


 * 1) Always use the short form, and disallow mixed formatting on link labels (obviously unacceptable).
 * 2) Use the short form when you can, and use the long form when you can't (more complicated).
 * 3) Always use the long form (more characters in wikitext).

They chose the last option because it is more straightforward and efficient for Parsoid.