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Apermanent link (orpermalink) is a link to a specific version of a Wikipedia page. Normalinternal links always lead to the current version of a page, but the permalink leads to the text as it was at that point in time; the text does not include any edits made since. Unlike what the name suggests, the permalink doesnot show exactly the same page, though; only themain text is guaranteed to be retained. Certain elements still update dynamically like pictures,[1]templates such asinfoboxes with text and images placed in the page's right-top corner, as well as any contenttranscluded from other pages. In other words, the permalink displays what the article would look like today if someonereverted to the revision in question.
A permalink can be made by clicking 'Permanent link' in the sidebar's toolbox or by accessing a prior revision of a page from itspage history tab. Both of these will display that version and the page'sURL can be used as the target of the permalink.
[[Special:PermanentLink/oldid]] or the shortcut[[Special:Permalink/oldid]] can be used to make awikilink when this is preferred over a URL.oldid is therevision number in the URL of a permanent link; for example,https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Help_desk&oldid=402359171, which is thus equivalent to[[Special:Permalink/402359171]]
The normal rules for wikilinks apply: such as regardingsection names,interwiki prefixes, andpipes (as further explained in the table below). Wikilinks work inedit summaries, unlike URLs. A wikilink only works in Wikipedia, and some other wikis if it has the right interwiki prefix. Here are some examples showing how to wikilink from a Wikipedia page,to a specific version of a page. Note theoldid part of the permanent link, and write your ownwikitext:
| Link to | Wikitext | Result to reader |
|---|---|---|
| any page, in anynamespace in Wikipedia: | [[Special:Permalink/402359171|a version of Wikipedia:Help desk page]] | a version of Wikipedia:Help desk page |
| a section of any page at Wikipedia: Note the section title is appended to therevision ID. SeeHelp:Section § Section linking. | [[Special:Permalink/402359171#December_14|a particular section at a version of WP:HD]] | a particular section at a version of WP:HD |
| any page in asister project: Note the use ofprefix codes wikt: forwiktionary andc: forCommons. SeeHelp:Interwikimedia links § Prefix codes for linking to projects. | [[wikt:Special:Permalink/27434896|wiktionary:scribble in July 2014]]
| wiktionary:scribble in July 2014 |
| asection on asister project page: Note the use of prefix codes q: andm:. | [[q:Special:Permalink/2220436#Le_Petit_Prince_(1943)|Feb 2017 rev of ''Little Prince'' quotes]]
| Feb 2017 rev ofLittle Prince quotes |
any page inany foreign Wikipedia: Deprecated:Local interlanguage links should not be used in the article namespace.Note the use ofinterlanguage prefixes tolink to foreign-language Wikiprojects. | [[:fr:Special:Permalink/385114|oldest copy]] of [[:fr:Agra|]] at [[:fr:|French Wikipedia]]
| oldest copy ofAgra atFrench Wikipedia |
| the most current version of a page (not a permanent link; this is just aplain wikilink) | [[Wikipedia:Help desk]] | Wikipedia:Help desk |
