Manual:Hooks/SkinTemplateNavigation::Universal

SkinTemplateNavigation::Universal
Available from version 1.18.0 (r79358, CodeReview archive) Called on both content and special pages after variants have been added
Define function:	public static function onSkinTemplateNavigation_Universal( SkinTemplate $skinTemplate, array &$links ) { ... }
Attach hook:	In extension.json: { "Hooks": { "SkinTemplateNavigation::Universal": "MediaWiki\\Extension\\MyExtension\\Hooks::onSkinTemplateNavigationUniversal" } }
Called from:	File(s): skins/SkinTemplate.php
Interface:	SkinTemplateNavigation__UniversalHook.php

For more information about attaching hooks, see Manual:Hooks .
For examples of extensions using this hook, see Category:SkinTemplateNavigation::Universal extensions.

Details

• $skinTemplate: SkinTemplate object
• &$links: Structured array of navigation links. Note the keys in the menu vary and depend on what the skin supports. You can either call Skin::supportsMenu or isset to check menus are supported before modifying. The table below references the currently available menus derived from Skin::buildContentNavigationUrlsInternal (last updated Feb 2026)

Template key	Data type	Usage	Available in MediaWiki version
languages	PortletData	Must be used if your skin supports languages	1.36
user-interface-preferences	PortletData	Can be used to allow extensions to surface settings controls outside the context of Special:Preferences.	1.37
user-page	PortletData	Should be used to render a link to the user's user page and user talk page.	1.37
user-menu	PortletData	Should be used to render links personal to a user e.g. their user contributions page and sandbox.	1.37
notifications	PortletData	Should be used to render user notifications e.g. support Echo	1.37
associated-pages	PortletData	Must be used to provide access to the discussion page and associated pages with special pages.	1.43
views	PortletData	Must be used to provide access to the edit and history links	1.36
actions	PortletData	Must be used to provide access to admins to protect, delete and move actions.	1.36
variants	PortletData	Must be used if your skin supports language variants	1.36

Examples

Add a link to a menu

$wgHooks['SkinTemplateNavigation::Universal'][] = function ( $skinTemplate, &$links ) {
	// add a new namespace tab
	$links['associated-pages']['my_namespace'] = [
		'class' => '',
		'href' => '#/SkinTemplateNavigationLocalSettings.php',
		'text' => 'SkinTemplateNavigationTab',
	];

	// add a new action
	$links['actions']['my_action'] = [
		'class' => '',
		'href' => '#/SkinTemplateNavigationLocalSettings.php',
		'text' => 'SkinTemplateNavigation action',
	];

	// add a new view
	$links['views']['my_view'] = [
		'class' => '',
		'href' => '#/SkinTemplateNavigationLocalSettings.php',
		'text' => 'SkinTemplateNavigation view',
	];
};

Disable create account/login links on a fishbowl wiki

$wgHooks['SkinTemplateNavigation::Universal'][] = function ( $skinTemplate, &$links ) {
  unset( $links['user-menu']['createaccount'] );
  unset( $links['user-menu']['login'] );
  unset( $links['user-menu']['login-private'] );
  unset( $links['user-menu']['anoncontribs'] );
};