Changes
→Development: + ref
{{about|the MediaWiki editing feature|character mode editors in general|Visual editor}}
{{selfref|1=For the Wikipedia page about the VisualEditor feature, see [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor]], or to perform tests using Wikipedia's VisualEditor, go to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:Sandbox?veaction=edit Sandbox]}}
{{Infobox software
| name = VisualEditor
| title = VisualEditor
| logo = [[File:VisualEditor-logo.svg|250px]]
| logo caption =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| screenshot = [[File:VisualEditor text format menu.png|300px]]
| caption = VisualEditor's text formatting menu
| screenshot_size =
| screenshot_alt = VisualEditor's text formatting menu
| collapsible =
| author =
| developer = [[Wikimedia Foundation]] and [[Wikia]]
| released = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| discontinued =
| latest release version =
| latest release date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| status = Live [[beta software|beta]]
| programming language = [[JavaScript]], [[Node.js]], [[PHP]]
| operating system = [[Cross-platform]]
| platform = [[MediaWiki]] [[Software extension|extension]]
| size =
| language =
| language count = <!-- DO NOT include this parameter unless you know what it does -->
| language footnote =
| genre = [[Wiki]]
| license = [[MIT License|MIT]]<ref>[https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/diffusion/EVED/browse/master/LICENSE.txt;9740d1683e9f2d66e81d8c54466b89b7ca2a0292 LICENSE.txt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112022217/https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/diffusion/EVED/browse/master/LICENSE.txt;9740d1683e9f2d66e81d8c54466b89b7ca2a0292 |date=2018-01-12 }}, VisualEditor source code repository, phabricator.wikimedia.org/diffusion/</ref>
| alexa =
| website = {{URL|https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor}}
| standard =
| AsOf =
}}
'''VisualEditor''' ('''VE''') is a project to provide a "visual" or "[[WYSIWYG]]-like" [[online rich-text editor]] as a [[MediaWiki extension]] to [[Wikipedia]]. It was developed by the [[Wikimedia Foundation]] in partnership with [[Wikia]].<ref name="TheVerge">{{cite web |work=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/22/3110130/wikimedia-visual-editor-prototype |title=Wikimedia releases updated prototype for simplified visual editor |author=Andrew Webster |date=2012-06-22 |accessdate=2013-07-27 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927065510/http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/22/3110130/wikimedia-visual-editor-prototype |archivedate=2013-09-27 |df= }}</ref> In July 2013 the [[beta software|beta]] was enabled by default, with the ability to [[opt-out]], for [[Mediawiki.org]] and several of the largest Wikipedias.<ref name="WPproj">{{cite web|work = [[Wikipedia]]|url = https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:VisualEditor&oldid=566232325|title = Wikipedia:VisualEditor|accessdate = 15 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="thenextweb">{{cite web|work=The Next Web|url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/07/02/wikimedia-rolls-out-its-wysiwyg-visual-editor-for-logged-in-users-accessing-wikipedia-articles-in-english/|title=Wikimedia rolls out WYSIWYG visual editor for logged-in users accessing Wikipedia articles in English|author=Emil Protalinski|date=2013-07-02|accessdate=2013-07-06|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705200158/http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/07/02/wikimedia-rolls-out-its-wysiwyg-visual-editor-for-logged-in-users-accessing-wikipedia-articles-in-english/|archivedate=2013-07-05|df=}}</ref>
The Wikimedia Foundation considered it the most challenging technical project to date, while ''[[The Economist]]'' has called it Wikipedia's most significant change.<ref name="TheEconomist" /> According to ''[[The Daily Dot]]'', Wikimedia Foundation's pursuit of wider participation may risk alienating existing editors.<ref name="TheDailyDot" /> In September 2013, English Wikipedia's VisualEditor was changed from opt-out to [[opt-in]], following user complaints,<ref name=thereg>{{cite news|work=[[The Register]]|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/25/wikipedia_peasants_revolt/|title=Revolting peasants force Wikipedia to cut'n'paste Visual Editor into the bin|author=Andrew Orlowski|date=2013-09-25|accessdate=2013-10-06|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001154730/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/25/wikipedia_peasants_revolt/|archivedate=2013-10-01|df=}}</ref><ref name="dd-kww"/> but was returned to being available by default in October 2015 after further development.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Forrester|first=James|date=2015-09-01|title=Gradual availability of VisualEditor for new users is now complete|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:VisualEditor&oldid=678948662|journal=Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia|language=en}}</ref> A 2015 study by the Wikimedia Foundation found that VisualEditor failed to provide the anticipated benefits for new editors.<ref name=May2015study/>
==Development==
{{main article|MediaWiki#Editing interface|Wikipedia|Wikia}}
[[File:Wikimania 2013 - VisualEditor - The present and future of editing our wikis.webm|thumb|right|200px|Presentation from [[Wikimania 2013]]: VisualEditor - The present and future of editing our wikis: The programming team who developed the software talks about it]]
The original web-based Wikipedia editor provided by [[MediaWiki]] is a plain browser-based<ref group="note">other text editors are supported; see [[Wikipedia:Text editor support]]</ref> [[text editor]] where authors had to learn the [[wiki markup]] language to edit.<ref name="ghacks">{{cite web |work=[[ghacks]] |url=http://www.ghacks.net/2012/02/24/wikipedia-visual-editor-coming-soon/ |title=Wikipedia Visual Editor Coming Soon |author=Martin Brinkmann |date=2012-02-24 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927175934/http://www.ghacks.net/2012/02/24/wikipedia-visual-editor-coming-soon/ |archivedate=2013-09-27 |df= }}</ref> A WYSIWYG editor for Wikipedia had been planned for years in order to remove the need to learn the wiki markup language. It was hoped this would reduce the technical hurdle for would-be [[Wikipedian]]s, enabling wider participation in editing, and was an attempt to reverse the [[Wikipedia#Decline in participation since 2007|decline in editor numbers]] of 50,000 in 2006 to 35,000 in 2011, having peaked in 2007.<ref name="TheEconomist"/><ref name="TheDailyDot"/> It was part of a $1m project aimed at developing new features and making improvements.<ref name="TheEconomist"/> A goal of the project is to allow both the former wiki markup editing and editing with the WYSIWYG VisualEditor.<ref name="h-online2011">{{cite web |work=[[h-online]] |url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Wikimedia-testing-visual-editor-1394872.html |title=Wikimedia testing visual editor |author=ehe |date=2011-12-14 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727133929/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Wikimedia-testing-visual-editor-1394872.html |archivedate=2013-07-27 |df= }}</ref> According to Wikimedia Foundation's Jay Walsh, the hope is to redress under-represented contributions from [[Arabic]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], and [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indic-language]] versions of the site.<ref name="TheDailyDot"/><ref group="note">Respective Wikipedia websites: [//ar.wikipedia.org/ Arabic], [//pt.wikipedia.org/ Portuguese] and Indic languages' [//ur.wikipedia.org/ Urdu], [//hi.wikipedia.org/ Hindi], [//bh.wikipedia.org/ Bihari], [//gu.wikipedia.org/ Gujarati]</ref>
According to Wikimedia Foundation "There are various reasons that lead existing and prospective contributors not to edit; among them, the complexity of wiki markup is a major issue. One of VisualEditor's goals is to empower knowledgeable and good-faith users to edit and become valuable members of the community, even if they’re not wiki markup experts. We also hope that, with time, experienced editors will find VisualEditor useful for some of their editing tasks."<ref name="thenextweb"/> In 2012, [[Sue Gardner]], the executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, said "we don't think that the visual editor, in and of itself, is going to solve the challenge",<ref name="theatlantic">{{cite web|work=[[The Atlantic]]|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/on-the-ugliness-of-wikipedia/259747/|title=On the Ugliness of Wikipedia|author=Megan Garber|date=2012-07-12|accessdate=2013-07-29|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703125036/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/on-the-ugliness-of-wikipedia/259747/|archivedate=2013-07-03|df=}}</ref> and Wikipedia co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] remarked "This is epically important".<ref name="Ubergizmo">{{cite web |work=ubergizmo.com |url=http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/06/wikimedia-launches-new-prototype-visual-editor-for-wikipedia/ |title=Wikimedia launches new prototype "visual editor" for Wikipedia |author=Gene Ryan Briones |date=2012-06-21 |accessdate=2013-07-29 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929171844/http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/06/wikimedia-launches-new-prototype-visual-editor-for-wikipedia/ |archivedate=2013-09-29 |df= }}</ref>
===Rollout===
MediaWiki is used by a large number of [[wiki]]s, with smaller sites originally conceived as being rolled out first.<ref name="theverge-previews">{{cite web |work=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/15/2637734/wikimedia-previews-simplified-editor |title=Wikimedia Foundation previews simplified visual editor |author=Jamie Keene |date=2011-12-15 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928193749/http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/15/2637734/wikimedia-previews-simplified-editor |archivedate=2013-09-28 |df= }}</ref> VisualEditor was planned to be rolled out on the English-language Wikipedia for editors with registered accounts, and then for anonymous editors.<ref name="softpedia">{{cite web|work=[[Softpedia]]|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-Visual-Editor-To-Be-Rolled-Out-358956.shtml|title=Wikipedia's Visual Editor to Be Rolled Out|author=Gabriela Vatu|date=2013-06-06|accessdate=2013-07-06|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615084714/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-Visual-Editor-To-Be-Rolled-Out-358956.shtml|archivedate=2013-06-15|df=}}</ref> The [[alpha software|alpha]] version was made available to select users in December 2012, widened to all registered users in April.<ref name="TheRegister">{{cite web |work=[[The Register]] |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/07/wysiwyg_wikipedia_writer_lands_in_july/ |title=Wikimedia edges closer to banishing Wikitext |author=Simon Sharwood |date=2013-06-07 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728204221/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/07/wysiwyg_wikipedia_writer_lands_in_july |archivedate=2013-07-28 |df= }}</ref> It was default editor for users logged-into the English-language Wikipedia in July 2013.<ref name="thenextweb"/><ref name="TheDailyDot"/> It was subsequently made opt-in on the English-language Wikipedia in September 2013 due to [[Wikipedia community|community]] complaints over its stability and implementation was buggy and had limitations<ref name="thereg"/><ref name="dd-kww" /> (though it remained active for most non-English Wikipedias).<ref name="mediawiki-VisualEditor2">{{cite web|url = https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|title = VisualEditor|publisher = |deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927190403/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|archivedate = 2013-09-27|df = }}</ref> In 2015 it completed its beta development phase and was again made available on English Wikipedia.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Engineering/2015-16_Q1_Goals|title=Wikimedia Engineering 2015 Q1 Goals|last=|first=|date=|website=mediawiki.org|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>
===Technical===
[[File:Parsoid HTML-RDFa content model.svg|thumb|Parsoid [[HTML]]-[[RDFa]] content model]]
{{main article|MediaWiki}}
The Wikimedia Foundation joined forces with Wikia to work on the project.<ref>{{Cite web|title = VisualEditor - the past, present and future|url = http://community.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Kirkburn/VisualEditor_-_the_past,_present_and_future|website = Wikia Community Central|accessdate = 2015-12-02|deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208130311/http://community.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Kirkburn/VisualEditor_-_the_past,_present_and_future|archivedate = 2015-12-08|df = }}</ref> The implementation encountered challenges with the wiki markup language (the basis for Wikipedia articles), due to it being continuously extended over 12 years to include seldom-used rich and complex features making reproduction of the final article appearance dependent on many factors that were not easy to reproduce.<ref name="h-online">{{cite web|work = [[h-online]]|url = http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/VisualEditor-launched-in-Wikipedia-1768068.html|title = VisualEditor launched in Wikipedia|author = djwm|date = 2012-12-13|accessdate = 2013-07-28|deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727204159/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/VisualEditor-launched-in-Wikipedia-1768068.html|archivedate = 2013-07-27|df = }}</ref> The technical implementation required improvements to MediaWiki in [[parsing]], wiki markup language, the [[Document Object Model|DOM]] and final [[HTML]] conversion.<ref name="aosabook">{{cite web|work=aosabook.org|url=http://www.aosabook.org/en/mediawiki.html|title=The Architecture of Open Source Applications (Volume 2) : MediaWiki|authors=Sumana Harihareswara, Guillaume Paumier|accessdate=2013-07-27|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924202227/http://aosabook.org/en/mediawiki.html|archivedate=2013-09-24|df=}}</ref> A necessary component is a parser server called Parsoid<ref group="note">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Parsoid|title=Parsoid|publisher=|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125005900/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Parsoid|archivedate=2014-11-25|df=}}</ref> which is written in [[Node.js]] and was created to convert in both directions between wikitext and a format suitable for VisualEditor.<ref name="h-online"/> The Wikimedia Foundation considered VisualEditor its most challenging technical project to date.<ref name="TheEconomist"/>
{{As of|April 2015}} supported [[web browser]]s include modern versions of [[Google Chrome|Chrome]], [[Firefox]], [[Midori (browser)|Midori]], [[Opera (browser)|Opera]], [[Safari (browser)|Safari]] and [[Internet Explorer]] (10+).
The VisualEditor MediaWiki extension is available for download by server operators and typically requires the latest version of MediaWiki.
====Online rich-text editor====
According to the VisualEditor team, the aim is "to create a reliable rich-text editor for MediaWiki",<ref name="mediawiki-VisualEditor">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|title=VisualEditor|publisher=|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927190403/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|archivedate=2013-09-27|df=}}</ref> a "visual editor" which is "WYSIWYG-like".<ref name="mediawiki-VisualEditorWelcome">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor:Welcome|title=VisualEditor:Welcome|publisher=|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403180826/http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor:Welcome|archivedate=2015-04-03|df=}}</ref> The implementation is split into a "core" [[online rich-text editor]] which can run independently of MediaWiki,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/wikimedia/VisualEditor|title=wikimedia/VisualEditor|author=|date=|website=GitHub}}</ref> and a MediaWiki extension.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki-extensions-VisualEditor |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-05-29 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811072125/https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki-extensions-VisualEditor/ |archivedate=2015-08-11 |df= }}</ref> The MediaWiki extension is in the category "WYSIWYG extensions".
==Assessments==
''[[The Daily Dot]]'' suggested that the Wikimedia Foundation's pursuit of more users may be at the risk of alienating the existing editors.<ref name="TheDailyDot"/> Some experienced editors have expressed concerns about the rollout and bugs, with the [[German Wikipedia]] community voting overwhelmingly against making the VisualEditor the new default, and expressing a preference for making it an "opt-in" feature instead.<ref name="TheDailyDot"/><ref name="theregister-buggy">{{cite web |work=[[The Register]] |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/01/wikipedians_reject_wysiwyg_editor/ |title=Wikipedians say no to Jimmy's 'buggy' WYSIWYG editor |author=Andrew Orlowski |date=2013-08-01 |accessdate=2013-08-05 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804115056/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/01/wikipedians_reject_wysiwyg_editor |archivedate=2013-08-04 |df= }}</ref> Despite these complaints, the Wikimedia Foundation continued with the rollout to other languages.<ref name="TheDailyDot">{{cite web |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |url=http://www.dailydot.com/business/wikipedia-visual-editor-wysiwyg/ |title=Will Wikipedia's pretty new editing software solve its recruitment crisis? |author=Tim Sampson |date=2012-07-04 |accessdate=2013-07-27 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927181859/http://www.dailydot.com/business/wikipedia-visual-editor-wysiwyg/ |archivedate=2013-09-27 |df= }}</ref> ''[[The Register]]'' said, "Our brief exploration suggests it certainly removes any need to so much as remember what kind of parenthesis belongs where."<ref name="TheRegister"/> ''[[The Economist]]''{{'}}s L.M., said it is "the most significant change in Wikipedia's short history."<ref name="TheEconomist">{{cite web |work=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/12/changes-wikipedia |title=Changes at Wikipedia: Seeing things |author=L.M. |date=2011-12-13 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609185354/http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/12/changes-wikipedia |archivedate=2013-06-09 |df= }}</ref> ''[[Softpedia]]'' ran an article titled "Wikipedia's New VisualEditor Is the Best Update in Years and You Can Make It Better".<ref name="softpedia-best">{{cite web|work=[[Softpedia]]|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-New-VisualEditor-Is-the-Best-Update-in-Years-and-You-Can-Make-It-Better-365072.shtml|title=Wikipedia's New VisualEditor Is the Best Update in Years and You Can Make It Better|author=Lucian Parfeni|date=2013-07-02|accessdate=2013-07-30|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003062619/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-New-VisualEditor-Is-the-Best-Update-in-Years-and-You-Can-Make-It-Better-365072.shtml|archivedate=2013-10-03|df=}}</ref> Some opponents have said that users may feel belittled by the implication that "certain people" are confused by wiki markup and therefore need the VisualEditor.<ref name="Simonite">{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/520446/the-decline-of-wikipedia/|title=The Decline of Wikipedia: Even As More People Than Ever Rely on It, Fewer People Create It|last=Simonite|first=Tom|date=October 22, 2013|work=[[MIT Technology Review]]|accessdate=January 17, 2014|deadurl=no|archiveurl=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20131023135648/http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/520446/the%2Ddecline%2Dof%2Dwikipedia/|archivedate=October 23, 2013|df=}}</ref>
''The Daily Dot'' reported on 24 September 2013 that the Wikimedia Foundation had experienced a mounting backlash from the English Wikipedia community, which criticised the VisualEditor as slow, poorly implemented and prone to break articles' existing text formatting. In the resulting "test of wills" between the community and the Foundation, a single volunteer administrator overrode the Wikimedia Foundation's settings to change the availability of VisualEditor from opt-out to opt-in. The Foundation acquiesced, but vowed to continue developing and improving the VisualEditor.<ref name=thereg/><ref name="dd-kww">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailydot.com/news/wikipedia-visualeditor-kww-patch/|title=Wikipedia faces revolt over VisualEditor|work=The Daily Dot|author=Tim Sampson|date=2013-09-24|accessdate=2013-09-25|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925165757/http://www.dailydot.com/news/wikipedia-visualeditor-kww-patch/|archivedate=2013-09-25|df=}}</ref>
===Research results===
The Wikimedia Foundation ran a [[controlled study]] on the effects of VisualEditor in May 2015. The study found that VisualEditor did not increase the number of newcomers who successfully begin editing, did not increase their productivity, and did not increase new editor [[retention rate|retention]]. Editing took significantly longer with VisualEditor, and new editors were less likely to save their work.<ref name=May2015study>{{cite web|title=VisualEditor's effect on newly registered editors/May 2015 study|url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Research:VisualEditor%27s_effect_on_newly_registered_editors/May_2015_study&oldid=15155528|website=Wikimedia.org|publisher=Wikimedia Foundation|accessdate=2 August 2016}}</ref> A previous June 2013 controlled test — when VisualEditor was less mature — showed similar neutral and negative results.<ref>{{cite web|title=Research:VisualEditor's effect on newly registered editors/June 2013 study|url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:VisualEditor%27s_effect_on_newly_registered_editors/June_2013_study|website=Wikimedia.org|publisher=Wikimedia Foundation|accessdate=10 August 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910053238/https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:VisualEditor%27s_effect_on_newly_registered_editors/June_2013_study|archivedate=10 September 2016|df=}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of web browsers]]
* {{section link|List of HTML editors|WYSIWYG editors}}
==Notes==
{{Reflist|2|group=note}}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite journal | last1 = Roth | first1 = Amy | last2 = Davis | first2 = Rochelle | last3 = Carver | first3 = Brian | year = 2013 | title = Assigning Wikipedia editing: Triangulation toward understanding university student engagement | doi = 10.5210/fm.v18i6.4340 | journal = [[First Monday (journal)|First Monday]] | volume = 18| issue = 6| page = }}
* Florian Leander Mayer. "Erfolgsfaktoren von Social Media: Wie "funktionieren" Wikis?: Eine vergleichende Analyse kollaborativer Kommunikationssysteme im Internet, in Organisationen und in Gruppen" (2013) Lit Verlag, pp. 30–32. {{ISBN|978-3643122100}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|VisualEditor}}
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor MediaWiki VisualEditor]
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:VisualEditor MediaWiki Extension: VisualEditor]
* [http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Help:VisualEditor Help:VisualEditor - Community Central]
* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/wikimania2006/b/b5/CS1_slides.pdf What you see is Wiki - Questioning WYSIWYG in the Internet Age]
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Alternative_parsers MediaWiki alternative parsers]
* [http://www.trevorparscal.com/resume/slides/building-a-visual-editor-for-wikipedia-with-notes@wikimania-2012.pdf Building a Visual Editor for Wikipedia]
* [https://www.wired.com/business/2008/12/wikipedias-wysi/ Wired Wikipedia's WYSIWYG Dilemma]
{{HTML editors}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:MediaWiki]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in PHP]]
[[Category:2013 software]]
[[Category:Cross-platform free software]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]
[[Category:MediaWiki extensions]]
[[Category:Wikia]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in JavaScript]]
[[Category:Wikimedia Foundation]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Free HTML editors]]
{{selfref|1=For the Wikipedia page about the VisualEditor feature, see [[Wikipedia:VisualEditor]], or to perform tests using Wikipedia's VisualEditor, go to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:Sandbox?veaction=edit Sandbox]}}
{{Infobox software
| name = VisualEditor
| title = VisualEditor
| logo = [[File:VisualEditor-logo.svg|250px]]
| logo caption =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| screenshot = [[File:VisualEditor text format menu.png|300px]]
| caption = VisualEditor's text formatting menu
| screenshot_size =
| screenshot_alt = VisualEditor's text formatting menu
| collapsible =
| author =
| developer = [[Wikimedia Foundation]] and [[Wikia]]
| released = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| discontinued =
| latest release version =
| latest release date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| status = Live [[beta software|beta]]
| programming language = [[JavaScript]], [[Node.js]], [[PHP]]
| operating system = [[Cross-platform]]
| platform = [[MediaWiki]] [[Software extension|extension]]
| size =
| language =
| language count = <!-- DO NOT include this parameter unless you know what it does -->
| language footnote =
| genre = [[Wiki]]
| license = [[MIT License|MIT]]<ref>[https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/diffusion/EVED/browse/master/LICENSE.txt;9740d1683e9f2d66e81d8c54466b89b7ca2a0292 LICENSE.txt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112022217/https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/diffusion/EVED/browse/master/LICENSE.txt;9740d1683e9f2d66e81d8c54466b89b7ca2a0292 |date=2018-01-12 }}, VisualEditor source code repository, phabricator.wikimedia.org/diffusion/</ref>
| alexa =
| website = {{URL|https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor}}
| standard =
| AsOf =
}}
'''VisualEditor''' ('''VE''') is a project to provide a "visual" or "[[WYSIWYG]]-like" [[online rich-text editor]] as a [[MediaWiki extension]] to [[Wikipedia]]. It was developed by the [[Wikimedia Foundation]] in partnership with [[Wikia]].<ref name="TheVerge">{{cite web |work=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/22/3110130/wikimedia-visual-editor-prototype |title=Wikimedia releases updated prototype for simplified visual editor |author=Andrew Webster |date=2012-06-22 |accessdate=2013-07-27 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927065510/http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/22/3110130/wikimedia-visual-editor-prototype |archivedate=2013-09-27 |df= }}</ref> In July 2013 the [[beta software|beta]] was enabled by default, with the ability to [[opt-out]], for [[Mediawiki.org]] and several of the largest Wikipedias.<ref name="WPproj">{{cite web|work = [[Wikipedia]]|url = https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:VisualEditor&oldid=566232325|title = Wikipedia:VisualEditor|accessdate = 15 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="thenextweb">{{cite web|work=The Next Web|url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/07/02/wikimedia-rolls-out-its-wysiwyg-visual-editor-for-logged-in-users-accessing-wikipedia-articles-in-english/|title=Wikimedia rolls out WYSIWYG visual editor for logged-in users accessing Wikipedia articles in English|author=Emil Protalinski|date=2013-07-02|accessdate=2013-07-06|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705200158/http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/07/02/wikimedia-rolls-out-its-wysiwyg-visual-editor-for-logged-in-users-accessing-wikipedia-articles-in-english/|archivedate=2013-07-05|df=}}</ref>
The Wikimedia Foundation considered it the most challenging technical project to date, while ''[[The Economist]]'' has called it Wikipedia's most significant change.<ref name="TheEconomist" /> According to ''[[The Daily Dot]]'', Wikimedia Foundation's pursuit of wider participation may risk alienating existing editors.<ref name="TheDailyDot" /> In September 2013, English Wikipedia's VisualEditor was changed from opt-out to [[opt-in]], following user complaints,<ref name=thereg>{{cite news|work=[[The Register]]|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/25/wikipedia_peasants_revolt/|title=Revolting peasants force Wikipedia to cut'n'paste Visual Editor into the bin|author=Andrew Orlowski|date=2013-09-25|accessdate=2013-10-06|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001154730/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/25/wikipedia_peasants_revolt/|archivedate=2013-10-01|df=}}</ref><ref name="dd-kww"/> but was returned to being available by default in October 2015 after further development.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Forrester|first=James|date=2015-09-01|title=Gradual availability of VisualEditor for new users is now complete|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:VisualEditor&oldid=678948662|journal=Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia|language=en}}</ref> A 2015 study by the Wikimedia Foundation found that VisualEditor failed to provide the anticipated benefits for new editors.<ref name=May2015study/>
==Development==
{{main article|MediaWiki#Editing interface|Wikipedia|Wikia}}
[[File:Wikimania 2013 - VisualEditor - The present and future of editing our wikis.webm|thumb|right|200px|Presentation from [[Wikimania 2013]]: VisualEditor - The present and future of editing our wikis: The programming team who developed the software talks about it]]
The original web-based Wikipedia editor provided by [[MediaWiki]] is a plain browser-based<ref group="note">other text editors are supported; see [[Wikipedia:Text editor support]]</ref> [[text editor]] where authors had to learn the [[wiki markup]] language to edit.<ref name="ghacks">{{cite web |work=[[ghacks]] |url=http://www.ghacks.net/2012/02/24/wikipedia-visual-editor-coming-soon/ |title=Wikipedia Visual Editor Coming Soon |author=Martin Brinkmann |date=2012-02-24 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927175934/http://www.ghacks.net/2012/02/24/wikipedia-visual-editor-coming-soon/ |archivedate=2013-09-27 |df= }}</ref> A WYSIWYG editor for Wikipedia had been planned for years in order to remove the need to learn the wiki markup language. It was hoped this would reduce the technical hurdle for would-be [[Wikipedian]]s, enabling wider participation in editing, and was an attempt to reverse the [[Wikipedia#Decline in participation since 2007|decline in editor numbers]] of 50,000 in 2006 to 35,000 in 2011, having peaked in 2007.<ref name="TheEconomist"/><ref name="TheDailyDot"/> It was part of a $1m project aimed at developing new features and making improvements.<ref name="TheEconomist"/> A goal of the project is to allow both the former wiki markup editing and editing with the WYSIWYG VisualEditor.<ref name="h-online2011">{{cite web |work=[[h-online]] |url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Wikimedia-testing-visual-editor-1394872.html |title=Wikimedia testing visual editor |author=ehe |date=2011-12-14 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727133929/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Wikimedia-testing-visual-editor-1394872.html |archivedate=2013-07-27 |df= }}</ref> According to Wikimedia Foundation's Jay Walsh, the hope is to redress under-represented contributions from [[Arabic]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], and [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indic-language]] versions of the site.<ref name="TheDailyDot"/><ref group="note">Respective Wikipedia websites: [//ar.wikipedia.org/ Arabic], [//pt.wikipedia.org/ Portuguese] and Indic languages' [//ur.wikipedia.org/ Urdu], [//hi.wikipedia.org/ Hindi], [//bh.wikipedia.org/ Bihari], [//gu.wikipedia.org/ Gujarati]</ref>
According to Wikimedia Foundation "There are various reasons that lead existing and prospective contributors not to edit; among them, the complexity of wiki markup is a major issue. One of VisualEditor's goals is to empower knowledgeable and good-faith users to edit and become valuable members of the community, even if they’re not wiki markup experts. We also hope that, with time, experienced editors will find VisualEditor useful for some of their editing tasks."<ref name="thenextweb"/> In 2012, [[Sue Gardner]], the executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, said "we don't think that the visual editor, in and of itself, is going to solve the challenge",<ref name="theatlantic">{{cite web|work=[[The Atlantic]]|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/on-the-ugliness-of-wikipedia/259747/|title=On the Ugliness of Wikipedia|author=Megan Garber|date=2012-07-12|accessdate=2013-07-29|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703125036/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/on-the-ugliness-of-wikipedia/259747/|archivedate=2013-07-03|df=}}</ref> and Wikipedia co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] remarked "This is epically important".<ref name="Ubergizmo">{{cite web |work=ubergizmo.com |url=http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/06/wikimedia-launches-new-prototype-visual-editor-for-wikipedia/ |title=Wikimedia launches new prototype "visual editor" for Wikipedia |author=Gene Ryan Briones |date=2012-06-21 |accessdate=2013-07-29 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929171844/http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/06/wikimedia-launches-new-prototype-visual-editor-for-wikipedia/ |archivedate=2013-09-29 |df= }}</ref>
===Rollout===
MediaWiki is used by a large number of [[wiki]]s, with smaller sites originally conceived as being rolled out first.<ref name="theverge-previews">{{cite web |work=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/15/2637734/wikimedia-previews-simplified-editor |title=Wikimedia Foundation previews simplified visual editor |author=Jamie Keene |date=2011-12-15 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928193749/http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/15/2637734/wikimedia-previews-simplified-editor |archivedate=2013-09-28 |df= }}</ref> VisualEditor was planned to be rolled out on the English-language Wikipedia for editors with registered accounts, and then for anonymous editors.<ref name="softpedia">{{cite web|work=[[Softpedia]]|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-Visual-Editor-To-Be-Rolled-Out-358956.shtml|title=Wikipedia's Visual Editor to Be Rolled Out|author=Gabriela Vatu|date=2013-06-06|accessdate=2013-07-06|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615084714/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-Visual-Editor-To-Be-Rolled-Out-358956.shtml|archivedate=2013-06-15|df=}}</ref> The [[alpha software|alpha]] version was made available to select users in December 2012, widened to all registered users in April.<ref name="TheRegister">{{cite web |work=[[The Register]] |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/07/wysiwyg_wikipedia_writer_lands_in_july/ |title=Wikimedia edges closer to banishing Wikitext |author=Simon Sharwood |date=2013-06-07 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728204221/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/07/wysiwyg_wikipedia_writer_lands_in_july |archivedate=2013-07-28 |df= }}</ref> It was default editor for users logged-into the English-language Wikipedia in July 2013.<ref name="thenextweb"/><ref name="TheDailyDot"/> It was subsequently made opt-in on the English-language Wikipedia in September 2013 due to [[Wikipedia community|community]] complaints over its stability and implementation was buggy and had limitations<ref name="thereg"/><ref name="dd-kww" /> (though it remained active for most non-English Wikipedias).<ref name="mediawiki-VisualEditor2">{{cite web|url = https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|title = VisualEditor|publisher = |deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927190403/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|archivedate = 2013-09-27|df = }}</ref> In 2015 it completed its beta development phase and was again made available on English Wikipedia.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Engineering/2015-16_Q1_Goals|title=Wikimedia Engineering 2015 Q1 Goals|last=|first=|date=|website=mediawiki.org|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>
===Technical===
[[File:Parsoid HTML-RDFa content model.svg|thumb|Parsoid [[HTML]]-[[RDFa]] content model]]
{{main article|MediaWiki}}
The Wikimedia Foundation joined forces with Wikia to work on the project.<ref>{{Cite web|title = VisualEditor - the past, present and future|url = http://community.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Kirkburn/VisualEditor_-_the_past,_present_and_future|website = Wikia Community Central|accessdate = 2015-12-02|deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208130311/http://community.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Kirkburn/VisualEditor_-_the_past,_present_and_future|archivedate = 2015-12-08|df = }}</ref> The implementation encountered challenges with the wiki markup language (the basis for Wikipedia articles), due to it being continuously extended over 12 years to include seldom-used rich and complex features making reproduction of the final article appearance dependent on many factors that were not easy to reproduce.<ref name="h-online">{{cite web|work = [[h-online]]|url = http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/VisualEditor-launched-in-Wikipedia-1768068.html|title = VisualEditor launched in Wikipedia|author = djwm|date = 2012-12-13|accessdate = 2013-07-28|deadurl = no|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727204159/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/VisualEditor-launched-in-Wikipedia-1768068.html|archivedate = 2013-07-27|df = }}</ref> The technical implementation required improvements to MediaWiki in [[parsing]], wiki markup language, the [[Document Object Model|DOM]] and final [[HTML]] conversion.<ref name="aosabook">{{cite web|work=aosabook.org|url=http://www.aosabook.org/en/mediawiki.html|title=The Architecture of Open Source Applications (Volume 2) : MediaWiki|authors=Sumana Harihareswara, Guillaume Paumier|accessdate=2013-07-27|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924202227/http://aosabook.org/en/mediawiki.html|archivedate=2013-09-24|df=}}</ref> A necessary component is a parser server called Parsoid<ref group="note">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Parsoid|title=Parsoid|publisher=|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125005900/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Parsoid|archivedate=2014-11-25|df=}}</ref> which is written in [[Node.js]] and was created to convert in both directions between wikitext and a format suitable for VisualEditor.<ref name="h-online"/> The Wikimedia Foundation considered VisualEditor its most challenging technical project to date.<ref name="TheEconomist"/>
{{As of|April 2015}} supported [[web browser]]s include modern versions of [[Google Chrome|Chrome]], [[Firefox]], [[Midori (browser)|Midori]], [[Opera (browser)|Opera]], [[Safari (browser)|Safari]] and [[Internet Explorer]] (10+).
The VisualEditor MediaWiki extension is available for download by server operators and typically requires the latest version of MediaWiki.
====Online rich-text editor====
According to the VisualEditor team, the aim is "to create a reliable rich-text editor for MediaWiki",<ref name="mediawiki-VisualEditor">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|title=VisualEditor|publisher=|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927190403/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor|archivedate=2013-09-27|df=}}</ref> a "visual editor" which is "WYSIWYG-like".<ref name="mediawiki-VisualEditorWelcome">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor:Welcome|title=VisualEditor:Welcome|publisher=|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403180826/http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor:Welcome|archivedate=2015-04-03|df=}}</ref> The implementation is split into a "core" [[online rich-text editor]] which can run independently of MediaWiki,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/wikimedia/VisualEditor|title=wikimedia/VisualEditor|author=|date=|website=GitHub}}</ref> and a MediaWiki extension.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki-extensions-VisualEditor |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-05-29 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811072125/https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki-extensions-VisualEditor/ |archivedate=2015-08-11 |df= }}</ref> The MediaWiki extension is in the category "WYSIWYG extensions".
==Assessments==
''[[The Daily Dot]]'' suggested that the Wikimedia Foundation's pursuit of more users may be at the risk of alienating the existing editors.<ref name="TheDailyDot"/> Some experienced editors have expressed concerns about the rollout and bugs, with the [[German Wikipedia]] community voting overwhelmingly against making the VisualEditor the new default, and expressing a preference for making it an "opt-in" feature instead.<ref name="TheDailyDot"/><ref name="theregister-buggy">{{cite web |work=[[The Register]] |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/01/wikipedians_reject_wysiwyg_editor/ |title=Wikipedians say no to Jimmy's 'buggy' WYSIWYG editor |author=Andrew Orlowski |date=2013-08-01 |accessdate=2013-08-05 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804115056/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/01/wikipedians_reject_wysiwyg_editor |archivedate=2013-08-04 |df= }}</ref> Despite these complaints, the Wikimedia Foundation continued with the rollout to other languages.<ref name="TheDailyDot">{{cite web |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |url=http://www.dailydot.com/business/wikipedia-visual-editor-wysiwyg/ |title=Will Wikipedia's pretty new editing software solve its recruitment crisis? |author=Tim Sampson |date=2012-07-04 |accessdate=2013-07-27 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927181859/http://www.dailydot.com/business/wikipedia-visual-editor-wysiwyg/ |archivedate=2013-09-27 |df= }}</ref> ''[[The Register]]'' said, "Our brief exploration suggests it certainly removes any need to so much as remember what kind of parenthesis belongs where."<ref name="TheRegister"/> ''[[The Economist]]''{{'}}s L.M., said it is "the most significant change in Wikipedia's short history."<ref name="TheEconomist">{{cite web |work=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/12/changes-wikipedia |title=Changes at Wikipedia: Seeing things |author=L.M. |date=2011-12-13 |accessdate=2013-07-28 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609185354/http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/12/changes-wikipedia |archivedate=2013-06-09 |df= }}</ref> ''[[Softpedia]]'' ran an article titled "Wikipedia's New VisualEditor Is the Best Update in Years and You Can Make It Better".<ref name="softpedia-best">{{cite web|work=[[Softpedia]]|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-New-VisualEditor-Is-the-Best-Update-in-Years-and-You-Can-Make-It-Better-365072.shtml|title=Wikipedia's New VisualEditor Is the Best Update in Years and You Can Make It Better|author=Lucian Parfeni|date=2013-07-02|accessdate=2013-07-30|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003062619/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wikipedia-s-New-VisualEditor-Is-the-Best-Update-in-Years-and-You-Can-Make-It-Better-365072.shtml|archivedate=2013-10-03|df=}}</ref> Some opponents have said that users may feel belittled by the implication that "certain people" are confused by wiki markup and therefore need the VisualEditor.<ref name="Simonite">{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/520446/the-decline-of-wikipedia/|title=The Decline of Wikipedia: Even As More People Than Ever Rely on It, Fewer People Create It|last=Simonite|first=Tom|date=October 22, 2013|work=[[MIT Technology Review]]|accessdate=January 17, 2014|deadurl=no|archiveurl=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20131023135648/http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/520446/the%2Ddecline%2Dof%2Dwikipedia/|archivedate=October 23, 2013|df=}}</ref>
''The Daily Dot'' reported on 24 September 2013 that the Wikimedia Foundation had experienced a mounting backlash from the English Wikipedia community, which criticised the VisualEditor as slow, poorly implemented and prone to break articles' existing text formatting. In the resulting "test of wills" between the community and the Foundation, a single volunteer administrator overrode the Wikimedia Foundation's settings to change the availability of VisualEditor from opt-out to opt-in. The Foundation acquiesced, but vowed to continue developing and improving the VisualEditor.<ref name=thereg/><ref name="dd-kww">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailydot.com/news/wikipedia-visualeditor-kww-patch/|title=Wikipedia faces revolt over VisualEditor|work=The Daily Dot|author=Tim Sampson|date=2013-09-24|accessdate=2013-09-25|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925165757/http://www.dailydot.com/news/wikipedia-visualeditor-kww-patch/|archivedate=2013-09-25|df=}}</ref>
===Research results===
The Wikimedia Foundation ran a [[controlled study]] on the effects of VisualEditor in May 2015. The study found that VisualEditor did not increase the number of newcomers who successfully begin editing, did not increase their productivity, and did not increase new editor [[retention rate|retention]]. Editing took significantly longer with VisualEditor, and new editors were less likely to save their work.<ref name=May2015study>{{cite web|title=VisualEditor's effect on newly registered editors/May 2015 study|url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Research:VisualEditor%27s_effect_on_newly_registered_editors/May_2015_study&oldid=15155528|website=Wikimedia.org|publisher=Wikimedia Foundation|accessdate=2 August 2016}}</ref> A previous June 2013 controlled test — when VisualEditor was less mature — showed similar neutral and negative results.<ref>{{cite web|title=Research:VisualEditor's effect on newly registered editors/June 2013 study|url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:VisualEditor%27s_effect_on_newly_registered_editors/June_2013_study|website=Wikimedia.org|publisher=Wikimedia Foundation|accessdate=10 August 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910053238/https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:VisualEditor%27s_effect_on_newly_registered_editors/June_2013_study|archivedate=10 September 2016|df=}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of web browsers]]
* {{section link|List of HTML editors|WYSIWYG editors}}
==Notes==
{{Reflist|2|group=note}}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite journal | last1 = Roth | first1 = Amy | last2 = Davis | first2 = Rochelle | last3 = Carver | first3 = Brian | year = 2013 | title = Assigning Wikipedia editing: Triangulation toward understanding university student engagement | doi = 10.5210/fm.v18i6.4340 | journal = [[First Monday (journal)|First Monday]] | volume = 18| issue = 6| page = }}
* Florian Leander Mayer. "Erfolgsfaktoren von Social Media: Wie "funktionieren" Wikis?: Eine vergleichende Analyse kollaborativer Kommunikationssysteme im Internet, in Organisationen und in Gruppen" (2013) Lit Verlag, pp. 30–32. {{ISBN|978-3643122100}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|VisualEditor}}
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/VisualEditor MediaWiki VisualEditor]
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:VisualEditor MediaWiki Extension: VisualEditor]
* [http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Help:VisualEditor Help:VisualEditor - Community Central]
* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/wikimania2006/b/b5/CS1_slides.pdf What you see is Wiki - Questioning WYSIWYG in the Internet Age]
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Alternative_parsers MediaWiki alternative parsers]
* [http://www.trevorparscal.com/resume/slides/building-a-visual-editor-for-wikipedia-with-notes@wikimania-2012.pdf Building a Visual Editor for Wikipedia]
* [https://www.wired.com/business/2008/12/wikipedias-wysi/ Wired Wikipedia's WYSIWYG Dilemma]
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