Manual:Interface

The MediaWiki interface is the entirety of the output HTML code of a wiki page except the body text itself. The interface includes the tabs above each page, the sidebar>Manual:Interface/Sidebar|sidebar, and personal links.

Localizing the interface
The default interface for many languages is defined in the MediaWiki localization files, and will update automatically if the language set by   or if a user's preferences is changed.

You can edit the text strings and images displayed for the current user interface language via the special page Special:Allmessages. For more information on this page and editing these messages, please see:




 * meta:Help:System messages


 * translatewiki.net, the MediaWiki localisation project

Customizing the interface
Depending on one's requirements and programming expertise, there are several customization techniques available:


 * sysmsg>Special:MyLanguage/Help:System message|System messages: Most look and feel customizations can be done by modifying system messages using the Special:AllMessages page. Editing interface messages is typically straightforward, just like editing a normal wiki page.  These messages set defaults for various parts of the user interface and contain a combination of plain text, wiki markup, CSS and JavaScript.  For details, see the documentation of the catmsg>:Category:Interface messages|individual messages.


 * skins>Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Skins|Skins: Fundamental changes to the layout of the interface may require attaching functions to one or more skin hooks>Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Hooks|hooks and/or the creation of a custom skin. For more information, please see .
 * /JavaScript: improve browser behavior using some scripts. Includes a list of JavaScript variables.
 * /Stylesheets: improve layout and design using CSS.
 * /IDs and classes: a list of common IDs and classes.