These messages are known asWatchlist notices.
Technical details
This page is transcluded viaMediaWiki:Watchlist-summary to the top ofSpecial:Watchlist, whereMediaWiki:Gadget-watchlist-notice.js selectively shows it to editors. The list itself is also used as an anchor point forGeonotices to insert themselves into the HTML. The specific watchlist notices that the user has dismissed are stored in the browser'slocal storage, in a variable namedhidewatchlistmessages.
Message types and durations
- You can request watchlist notices atMediaWiki talk:Watchlist-messages.
- Typically, the maximum duration a watchlist notice should run is one week.
- Typically, watchlist notices are used for:
- Rarely, watchlist notices are used for:
- RFCs that concern the English Wikipedia community at large
- Other uses may be considered, but should be discussed first on the talk page
Other details
- Watchlist messages should be succinct.
- All watchlist messages should have a single boldedcall to action phrase or a word.
- When adding a new message (rather than just correcting or updating one), please increment the |cookie= parameter of{{Display/watchlist}}. The gadget tracks which watchlist messages the user has clicked "dismiss" on via a cookie. If you re-use that cookie number, and the user has already dismissed a watchlist notice with that cookie number, the user will not see the new watchlist notice.
