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{{tl|Ambox}} stands for '''A'''rticle '''m'''essage '''box''', which is a [[Wikipedia:Help:Metatemplating|metatemplate]]. It is used to build message boxes for templates used in '''articles''', such as {{tl|underlinked}}. It offers several different colours, images and some other features.

==Basic usage==
The box below shows the most common parameters that are accepted by {{Tl|Ambox}}. The purpose of each is described below.
<pre style="overflow:auto;">
{{Ambox
| name  = 
| subst = <includeonly>{{subst:substcheck}}</includeonly>
| small = {{{small|}}}
| type  = 
| image = 
| sect  = {{{1|}}}
| issue = 
| talk  = {{{talk|}}}
| fix   = 
| date  = {{{date|}}}
| cat   = 
| all   = 
}}
</pre>

==Full usage==
The "All parameters" box shows all possible parameters for this template. However, it is not recommended to copy this, because it will never be required to use all parameters simultaneously.

{| class="wikitable" align="left" style="background:transparent; width=30%;" 
!All parameters
|-
|<pre style="font-size:100%">
{{Ambox
| name        = 
| subst       = <includeonly>{{subst:substcheck}}</includeonly>
| small       = {{{small|}}}
| type        = 
| image       = 
| imageright  = 
| smallimage  = 
| smallimageright = 
| class       = 
| style       = 
| textstyle   = 
| sect        = {{{1|}}}
| issue       = 
| talk        = {{{talk|}}}
| fix         = 
| date        = {{{date|}}}
| text        = 
| smalltext   = 
| plainlinks  = no
| removalnotice =
| cat         = 
| all         = 
| cat2        = 
| all2        = 
| cat3        = 
| all3        = 
}}
</pre>
|}
{{clear}}

==Common parameters==
=== ''name'' ===
The ''name'' parameter specifies the name of the template, without the Template namespace prefix. For example {{Tl|Underlinked}} specifies {{Para|name|Underlinked}}.

This parameter should be updated if the template is ever moved. The purpose of this parameter is twofold:
* If incorrectly [[Wikipedia:Substitution|substituted]], it allows the meta-template to notify the name of the template which has been substituted, which may help editors to fix the problem.
* It allows the template to have a more useful display on its template page, for example to show the date even when not specified, and to apply categorisation of the template itself.

=== ''subst'' ===
The ''subst'' parameter allows the meta-template to detect whether the template has been incorrectly substituted, and give an appropriate warning. It will also add such pages to [[:Category:Pages with incorrectly substituted templates]]. Just copy the code exactly as it appears in the box.

=== ''small'' ===
The ''small'' parameter should be passed through the template, as this will allow editors to use the small format by specifying {{para|small|left}} on an article:
{{Ambox|nocat=true|small=left|text=This is the small left-aligned Ambox format.}}
Otherwise the standard format will be produced:
{{Ambox|nocat=true|text=This is the standard Ambox format.}}

Other variations:
* For templates which should ''never'' be small, specify {{Para|small|no}} or do not pass the small parameter at all.
* For templates which should ''always'' be small, just specify {{Para|small|left}}.
* For templates which should ''default to small'', try {{para|small|<nowiki>{{{small|left}}}</nowiki>}}. This will allow an editor to override by using {{para|small|no}} on an article.

To use a small box that adjusts its width to match the text, use {{para|style|width: auto; margin-right: 0px;}} and {{para|textstyle|width: auto;}} together:
{{Ambox|nocat=true|small=left|style=width: auto; margin-right: 0px;|textstyle=width: auto; margin-right: 0px;|text=This is the small left-aligned Ambox format with flexible width.}}

See {{section link||sect}} below for more information on how to limit {{para|small}} display to cases when the template is being used for a section instead of the whole article (recommended, to prevent inconsistent top-of-article display).

=== ''type'' ===
The ''type'' parameter defines the colour of the left bar, and the image that is used by default. The type is chosen not on aesthetics but is based on the type of issue that the template describes. The seven available types and their default images are shown below.
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = speedy
| text  = type=<u>speedy</u> – Speedy deletion issues, such as {{tl|db-g1}} and {{tl|db-g3}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = delete
| text  = type=<u>delete</u> – Deletion issues, such as {{tl|article for deletion}} and {{tl|proposed deletion}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = content
| text  = type=<u>content</u> – Content issues, such as {{tl|POV}} and {{tl|globalize}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = style
| text  = type=<u>style</u> – Style issues, such as {{tl|cleanup}} and {{tl|underlinked}}.
}}
{{ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = notice
| text  = type=<u>notice</u> – Article notices, such as {{tl|current}} and {{tl|in use}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = move
| text  = type=<u>move</u> – Merge, split and transwiki proposals, such as {{tl|split}} and {{tl|copy to Wiktionary}}.
}}
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| type  = protection
| text  = type=<u>protection</u> – Protection notices, such as {{tl|pp-vandalism}} and {{tl|pp-protected}}.
}}

If no ''type'' parameter is given the template defaults to {{para|type|notice}}.

=== ''image'' ===
You can choose a specific image to use for the template by using the ''image'' parameter. Images are specified using the standard syntax for inserting files in Wikipedia (see [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#How to place an image]].) Widths of 40-50px are typical. For example:

* {{Tl|POV}} specifies {{Para|image|<nowiki>[[File:Unbalanced scales.svg|40px|link=|alt=]]</nowiki>}} and looks like this:
{{POV|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

* {{tl|underlinked}} specifies {{para|image|<nowiki>[[File:Ambox wikify.svg|50x40px|link=|alt=]]</nowiki>}} and looks like this:
{{underlinked|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

Please note:
* If no image is specified then the default image corresponding to the ''type'' is used. (See [[#type]] above.)
* If {{para|image|none}} is specified, then no image is used and the text uses the whole message box area.
* If an icon is [[Wikipedia:Alternative text for images#Purely decorative images|purely decorative]] and also in the [[Wikipedia:Image use policy#Public_domain|public domain]], [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Accessibility|accessibility]] can be improved by suppressing the link to the file page by adding "{{para|link}}{{para|alt}}" as seen above.

=== ''sect'' ===
Many article message templates begin with the text '''This article ...''' and it is often desirable that this wording change to '''This section ...''' if the template is used on a section instead. The value of this parameter will replace the word "article". Various possibilities for use include: {{para|sect|list}}, {{para|sect|table}}, {{para|sect|"In popular culture" material}}, etc.

{{em|If using this feature, be sure to remove the first two words ("This article") from the template's text, otherwise it will be duplicated.}}

A common way to facilitate this functionality is to pass {{para|sect|<nowiki>{{{1|}}}</nowiki>}}. This will allow editors to type <kbd>section</kbd>, for example, as the first unnamed parameter of the template to change the wording. For example, {{tlx|Advert|section}} produces:
{{Advert|section|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}
Another approach is to pass {{para|sect|<nowiki>{{{section|{{{sect|}}}}}}</nowiki>}} to provide a named value.  Another is to use {{tlx|Yesno}} to parse the value for a positive, and pass {{para|sect|section}} if true.

{{em|These approaches can be combined}}, and this is recommended. The following ready-to-use code:
{{block indent|1=<code><nowiki>| sect  = {{#ifeq:{{yesno|def=|1={{{sect|{{{section}}}}}} }}|yes|section|{{{sect|{{{section|{{{1|}}}}}}}}} }}</nowiki></code>}}
enables the following:
* Any positive value that {{tlx|Yesno}} can detect will be used with the named parameter in the ambox-based template to get "section" instead of "article": {{para|section|y}}, {{para|sect|True}}, etc.  It is recommended to allow both {{para|sect}} and {{para|section}} so that editors do not have to guess which one will work. The sample code above does this for you.
* Any other value passed, in any manner, will replace "article": {{para||section and its subsections}}, {{para|1|list}}, {{para|sect|section}}, {{para|section|table}}, etc.

It is also advisable to restrict use of the {{para|small}} parameter so that it is made contingent upon the template being applied to a section (or whatever) rather than the whole article, to prevent the small version of the template being used at the top of the article where it would be inconsistent with other article-wide cleanup/dispute banners:
{{block indent|1=<code><nowiki>| small = {{#if:{{{sect|{{{section|{{{1|}}}}}}}}}|{{#if:{{{small|{{{left|}}}}}}|left}} }}</nowiki></code>}}
(In this case, any value of {{para|small}} or {{para|left}} will trigger the small, left display, as long as some value of {{para|sect}} or one of its aliases in that template has also been provided.) This code can be copy-pasted and used with the above code block. See, e.g., [[Template:Trivia]] and its [[Template:Trivia/testcases]] to observe the combined functionality.

=== ''issue'' and ''fix'' ===
The ''issue'' parameter is used to describe the issue with the article. Try to keep it short and to-the-point (approximately 10-20 words) and be sure to include a link to a relevant [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|policy or guideline]].

The ''fix'' parameter contains some text which describes what should be done to improve the article. It may be longer than the text in ''issue'', but should not usually be more than two sentences.

When the template is in its compact form (when placed inside {{tl|multiple issues}}) or small form (when using {{para|small|left}}), the ''issue'' is the only text that will be displayed. For example, {{Tl|Citation style}} defines
* <code>|issue=<nowiki>This article '''has an unclear citation style'''.</nowiki></code>
* <code>|fix=<nowiki>The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of [[Wikipedia:Citing sources|citation]], [[Wikipedia:Footnotes|footnoting]], or [[Wikipedia:External links|external linking]].</nowiki></code>

When used stand-alone it produces the whole text:
{{Citation style|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

But when used inside {{Tl|Multiple issues}} or with {{Para|small|left}} it displays only the issue:
{{Multiple issues <!-- Even though there's only one "issue", please don't remove this {{Multiple issues}} template. It is a demonstration of the formatting. --> |{{Citation style|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}}}
{{Citation style|small=left|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}

=== ''talk'' ===
Some article message templates include a link to the talk page, and allow an editor to specify a section heading to link directly to the relevant section. To achieve this functionality, simply pass the ''talk'' parameter through, i.e. {{para|talk|<nowiki>{{{talk|}}}</nowiki>}}

This parameter may then be used by an editor as follows:
* {{para|talk|SECTION HEADING}} – the link will point to the specified section on the article's talk page, e.g. {{para|talk|Foo}}
* {{para|talk|FULL PAGE NAME}} – the template will link to the page specified (which may include a [[Wikipedia:Help:Link#Section linking (anchors)|section anchor]]), e.g. {{para|talk|Talk:Banana#Foo}}

Notes:
* When this parameter is used by a template, the talk page link will appear on the template itself (in order to demonstrate the functionality) but this will only display on articles if the parameter is actually defined.
* In order to make sure there is always a link to the talk page, you can use {{para|talk|<nowiki>{{{talk|#}}}</nowiki>}}.
* If the talk page does not exist, there will be no link, whatever the value of the parameter.

=== ''date'' ===
Passing the ''date'' parameter through to the meta-template means that the date that the article is tagged may be specified by an editor (or more commonly a [[Wikipedia:Bots|bot]]). This will be displayed after the message in a smaller font.

Passing this parameter also enables [[:Category:Wikipedia maintenance categories sorted by month|monthly cleanup categorisation]] when the ''cat'' parameter is also defined.

=== ''info'' ===
This parameter is for specifying additional information. Whatever you add here will appear after the date, and will not be displayed if the template is being wrapped in {{tl|multiple issues}}.

=== ''removalnotice'' ===
If you specify {{para|removalnotice|yes}}, then the following notice will be displayed after the date and after the ''info'' text:
* <small>[[Wikipedia:Help:Maintenance template removal|Learn how and when to remove this template message]].</small>
This will not be displayed if the template is being wrapped in {{tl|multiple issues}}.

=== ''cat'' ===
This parameter defines a monthly cleanup category. If {{para|cat|CATEGORY}} then:
* articles will be placed in '''Category:CATEGORY from DATE''' if  {{para|date|DATE}} is specified.
* articles will be placed in '''Category:CATEGORY''' if the date is not specified.

For example, {{Tl|No footnotes}} specifies {{Para|cat|Articles lacking in-text citations}} and so an article with the template {{Tlx|No footnotes|2=date=June 2010}} will be placed in [[:Category:Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2010]].

The ''cat'' parameter should not be linked, nor should the prefix <code>Category:</code> be used.

=== ''all'' ===
The ''all'' parameter defines a category into which all articles should be placed.

The ''all'' parameter should not be linked, nor should the prefix <code>Category:</code> be used.

== Additional parameters ==
=== ''imageright'' ===
An image on the right side of the message box may be specified using this parameter. The syntax is the same as for the ''image'' parameter, except that the default is no image.

=== ''smallimage'' and ''smallimageright'' ===
Images for the small format box may be specified using these parameters. They will have no effect unless {{para|small|left}} is specified.

=== ''class'' ===
Custom [[Wikipedia:Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]] classes to apply to the box. If adding multiple classes, they should be space-separated.

=== ''style'' and ''textstyle'' ===
Optional CSS values may be defined, without quotation marks <code>" "</code> but with the ending semicolons <code>;</code>.
* ''style'' specifies the style used by the entire message box table. This can be used to do things such as modifying the width of the box.
* ''textstyle'' relates to the text cell.

=== ''text'' and ''smalltext'' ===
Instead of specifying the ''issue'' and the ''fix'' it is possible to use the ''text'' parameter instead.

Customised text for the small format can be defined using ''smalltext''.

=== ''plainlinks'' ===
Normally on Wikipedia, external links have an arrow icon next to them, like this: [http://www.example.com Example.com]. However, in message boxes, the arrow icon is suppressed by default, like this: <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.example.com Example.com]</span>. To get the normal style of external link with the arrow icon, use {{para|plainlinks|no}}.

=== ''cat2'', ''cat3'', ''all2'', and ''all3'' ===
* ''cat2'' and ''cat3'' provide for additional monthly categories; see [[#cat]].
* ''all2'' and ''all3'' provide for additional categories into which all articles are placed, just like [[#all]].

== Technical notes ==
*  The CSS for this template is defined by the ambox CSS classes in [[MediaWiki:Common.css]].
* If you need to use special characters in the text parameter then you need to escape them like this:
<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| text  = <div>
Equal sign = and a start and end brace { } work fine as they are.
But here is a pipe &#124; and two end braces <nowiki>}}</nowiki>.
And now a pipe and end braces <nowiki>|}}</nowiki>.
</div>
}}
</syntaxhighlight>
{{Ambox
|nocat=true
| text  = <div>
Equal sign = and a start and end brace { } work fine as they are.
But here is a pipe &#124; and two end braces <nowiki>}}</nowiki>.
And now a pipe and end braces <nowiki>|}}</nowiki>.
</div>
}}

* The <code>&lt;div></code> tags that surround the text in the example above are usually not needed. But if the text contains line breaks then sometimes we get weird line spacing. This especially happens when using vertical dotted lists. Then use the div tags to fix that.
* The default images for this meta-template are in png format instead of svg format. The main reason is that some older web browsers have trouble with the transparent background that MediaWiki renders for svg images. The png images here have hand optimised transparent background colour so they look good in all browsers. Note that svg icons only look somewhat bad in the old browsers, thus such hand optimisation is only worth the trouble for very widely used icons.
* For more technical details see the [[Template talk:Ambox|talk page]] and the "See also" links below. Since this template works almost exactly like {{Tl|Tmbox}}, {{Tl|Imbox}}, {{Tl|Cmbox}} and {{Tl|Ombox}} their talk pages and related pages might also contain more details.

==Display on mobile devices==
The MediaWiki developers have been conducted ongoing readability studies on ambox on the [https://en.m.wikipedia.org mobile version of Wikipedia]. Until further notice, code installed by the developers on the mobile version will generally override what we do here regarding the display and layout of this template. For more information, see [[:MW:Reading/Web/Projects/Mobile Page Issues]].

== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Article message boxes]] – The style guideline for creating article message boxes.

<includeonly>
<!-- Add categories below this line, and interwikis at Wikidata -->
[[Category:Message box templates]]
</includeonly>