Wikipedia:Protocol-relative URL
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A protocol-relative URL (PRURL) is the preferred method on Wikipedia for linking to a website that offers both HTTP and HTTPS, while HTTPS links should be used for HTTPS-only websites and HTTP links should be used for sites that don't support HTTPS at all.[1] For example, the Internet Archive supports both protocols and thus a PRURL should be used when linking to the site. A PRURL automatically uses either HTTP or HTTPS depending on the user's browser settings.
Example:
*[//archive.org Internet Archive]
- generates
In citation templates, whether Citation Style 1 or Citation Style 2, protocol-relative URLs may be entered as |url=//www.example.com/ etc.
Implementation
Although past consensus discussions agreed to use PRURLs, no consensus was decided about changing them on a site-wide basis such as with a bot (see 17 January 2014 close box below). Implementation has been on an individual article and editor basis.
Previous discussions and links
Policy discussions
- Wikipedia:Village pump (policy)/Archive 111#PRL (Original consensus discussion. 17 January 2014)
- Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)/Archive 123#How should external protocol-relative links be implemented.3F (Follow-up on how to implement. 23 January 2014)
- Wikipedia:Village pump (policy)/Archive 115#Protocol Relative URLs (Follow-up on Internet Explorer issues. 18 September 2014)
Information
- Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2011-07-25/Technology report#Protocol-relative URLs coming
- Wikipedia will switch to HTTPS by default
- Enabling PRLs on test wiki
- Protocol Relative URL quick overview