 | This is the template sandbox page for Template:External links (diff). See also the companion subpage for test cases. |
 | This template is used on approximately 3,100 pages and changes may be widely noticed. Test changes in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them. |
 | Any breaking changes to this template, including moving it or nominating it for deletion, must be communicated in advance to Twinkle's users and maintainers at Wikipedia talk:Twinkle. The standard installation of Twinkle relies on this template. Thank you. |
When to use
editAdd this to the top of the External links section whenever:
- There are too many links for this article. (Most editors object to more than about eight or sometimes ten links, but the best number for a given article depends on the specific circumstances, and may range from zero to more than a dozen.)
- One or more of the links present (regardless of number) are inappropriate for any reason.
If there are external links within the body of an article (which is almost always inappropriate), this tag should be placed at the top of the article instead.
Please consider fixing the problem yourself, rather than using this tag to ask someone else to do it. Don't forget to remove this template when the concerns appear to have been resolved.
Usage
editUse:
{{External links|date=August 2025}}or{{External links|section|date=August 2025}}to apply to a single section
This template will categorize tagged articles into Category:Wikipedia external links cleanup.
- This template is a self-reference.
- Please do not substitute this template.
If this is a perennial problem, consider using {{subst:No more links}} in the external links section.
TemplateData
editTemplateData for External links
Use this cleanup template to indicate that an article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month and year | date | The month and year that the template was placed (in full). "{{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}" inserts the current month and year automatically.
| Line | suggested |
| Affected area | 1 | Text to replace the word "article", usually "section"
| Line | optional |
See also
edit- Wikipedia:External links
- Wikipedia:Template index/Cleanup
- {{External links inline}} – inline template for tagging individual external links that may be inappropriate
- {{Advert}}
- {{No more links}} – a similar message is inserted as a <!-- comment -->
- {{Further reading cleanup}} – banner template for cleaning up non-website lists
- {{Overlinked}}
- {{Cite web}}
- {{Cleanup bare URLs}}
 | This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (August 2016) |