This template is used on approximately 257,000 pages. To avoid major disruption and server load, any changes should be tested in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. The tested changes can be added to this page in a single edit. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.
This template provides a way to link to a userpage and display just the username, like [[User:Example|Example]]. This may not save much typing for a short username like "Example", but it may be more useful with long usernames such as [[User:Guywh0sitsbehindphilip12|Guywhositsbehindphilip12]]. This template is commonly used to ping a user to a discussion (when not using something like {{reply to}}). However, please read the notifications section below, if you need to notify the user.
The template's second parameter, which is optional, takes the link's label; for example, a link to the long username used above can be shortened while viewing the text like this:
{{User link|Guywhositsbehindphilip12|Guy}} → Guy
As with other templates that create a link to a user page, the linked-to user may be notified under certain circumstances: it happens whenever the conditions described at Notifications are met. These conditions include the addition of one or more new lines of text, one (or more) of which contains the link, and one of which is signed in the same edit.
{{reply to}} – links to a user's page (with the @ sign and colon) and pings a user.
{{hidden ping}} – notifies one or more users without displaying any text
{{no ping}} – links a user's name without triggering the Echo notification system
{{to}} – uses "To " (with a space) at the beginning instead of the @ sign
{{talkback}} – allows a user to direct the attention of another user to a discussion via a notification
Userspace link templates
User information templates provide informational links for a user; they are similar to signatures, but often provide additional information, and may be used by other users. List:
