Page History
Every page on Origin Wiki has a history that tracks all changes made to the page over time. This feature allows users to see who made what changes and when, providing transparency and accountability.
Accessing Page History
To view a page's history:
- Click on the "History" tab at the top of any page, or
- Add "/history" to the end of a page's URL (e.g., "/influencer/vitalik_buterin/history")
The history page shows a chronological list of all edits made to the page, with the most recent edits at the top.
Understanding the History Page
Each entry in the history page includes:
- Date and time: When the edit was made.
- Username or IP address: Who made the edit.
- Edit summary: A brief description of the changes (if provided by the editor).
- Size change: How many bytes were added or removed (e.g., "+245" or "-128").
- Tags: Labels that provide additional information about the edit (e.g., "minor edit").
- Action links: Options to view, compare, or revert the edit.
Comparing Revisions
One of the most useful features of page history is the ability to compare different versions of a page:
- Compare adjacent revisions:
Click on "prev" next to an edit to compare it with the previous version.
- Compare specific revisions:
Select the radio buttons next to two revisions and click "Compare selected revisions" to see the differences between them.
- View a specific revision:
Click on the date/time of a revision to view that version of the page.
Reading Diff Pages
When you compare revisions, you'll see a "diff" page that highlights the changes:
Color Coding
- Red text indicates content that was removed
- Green text indicates content that was added
Context
The diff shows some unchanged text before and after the changes to provide context.
Section Changes
If changes were made to multiple sections, each section will be shown separately.
Using Page History
Reviewing Recent Changes
Page history allows you to see what changes have been made recently, who made them, and why. This is useful for:
- Checking if your edits were preserved
- Reviewing changes made by others
- Understanding how the page has evolved
Reverting Edits
If you find problematic edits, you can revert them:
- Find the last good version in the history
- View that version by clicking on its date/time
- Click "Edit" at the top of the page
- Add an edit summary explaining the reversion
- Save the page
For some users, there may be a "Revert" link that simplifies this process.
Researching Article Development
Page history can be used to research how an article has developed over time:
- When key information was added
- How the article's focus has shifted
- Who the major contributors are
- When and why controversial changes were made
Advanced History Features
- Filtering history: You can filter the history to show only edits by a specific user, edits within a date range, or edits with specific tags.
- Viewing deleted revisions: Administrators can view revisions that have been deleted from the history.
- Examining edit statistics: Some tools provide statistics about edits, such as which users have made the most edits to a page.
- Watching page history: Adding a page to your watchlist allows you to monitor changes to its history.
Tips for Using Page History
- Always check recent changes: Before editing a page, review recent changes to avoid overwriting others' work.
- Provide clear edit summaries: When you edit a page, include a concise description of your changes to help others understand your edits in the history.
- Use the history to resolve disputes: When disagreements arise about content, the history can provide context and help track how the dispute developed.
- Look for patterns: Repeated edits or reversions may indicate a content dispute that needs discussion.
- Check user contributions: Click on a username in the history to see other edits by that user.