Wikipedia:User categories/Introduction
A user category is a type of category—a grouping of related pages[1] intended as a tool for navigation[2]—that contains the user pages of Wikipedia users. The technical function of a user category, therefore, is to group the user pages of Wikipedia users who share one or more characteristics. Given this technical function, and considering the principle that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and not a social networking site[3] or personal webhost,[4] the purpose of user categories is to aid in facilitating coordination and collaboration between users for the improvement and development of the encyclopedia.
In addition, as with all categories, user categories should not be used as "bottom-of-the-page" notices.[5] If a Wikipedian wishes to have such a notice, they may edit their user page and add the notice in some other way (such as by adding text or a userbox), rather than inappropriately creating a category grouping.
References
- ^ "Each of the pages in the Category namespace represents a so-called category, a kind of grouping of related pages." – Help:Category#Summary
- ^ "Categories (along with other features like cross-references, lists, and infoboxes) help readers find information, even if they don't know that it exists or what it's called." - Wikipedia:Categorization#When_to_use_categories
- ^ "Wikipedia is not a social network such as MySpace or Facebook. ... Wikipedians have their own user pages, but they may be used only to present information relevant to working on the encyclopedia. ... The focus of user pages should not be social networking, but rather providing a foundation for effective collaboration." – Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not a blog, webspace provider, social networking, or memorial site
- ^ "[Y]our user page ... exists to make collaboration among Wikipedians easier". – Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not your web host
- ^ "A category is probably inappropriate if the answer to the following ... is "no": Is it possible to write a few paragraphs or more on the subject of a category, explaining it?" - Wikipedia:Categories, lists, and navigational templates#Categories