Template talk:Article for deletion

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Article for deletion template.

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Template:Article for deletion is permanently protected from editing as it is a heavily used or highly visible template. Substantial changes should first be proposed and discussed here on this page. If the proposal is uncontroversial or has been discussed and is supported by consensus, editors may use {{edit template-protected}} to notify an administrator or template editor to make the requested edit. Usually, any contributor may edit the template's documentation to add usage notes or categories.

Any contributor may edit the template's sandbox. Functionality of the template can be checked using test cases.

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Article for deletion/dated:
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Wording changes

There is a discussion at WP:VPI#{{Article for deletion}} refinement about the recent changes to the template message. Sojourner in the earth (talk) 15:45, 9 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Template-protected edit request on 1 February 2024

This edit request to Template:AfDM has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Please append:

{{Redirect category shell|
{{R from template shortcut}}
}}

to categorize the redirect. Thanks, ^Queen of _Hearts 23:54, 1 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Completed. P.I. Ellsworth , ed. ^{put'er there} 00:13, 2 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Fully protected edit request on 2 February 2024

This edit request to Template:Afd has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

A protected redirect, Template:Afd,Template:Afd needs redirect category (rcat) templates added. Please modify it as follows:

from this:

#REDIRECT [[Template:Article for deletion]]

to this:

#REDIRECT [[Template:Article for deletion]]

{{Redirect category shell|
{{R from move}}
{{R from template shortcut}}
}}

WHEN YOU COPY & PASTE, PLEASE LEAVE THE SKIPPED LINE BLANK FOR READABILITY.

The {{Redirect category shell}} template is used to sort redirects into one or more categories. When {{pp-protected}} and/or {{pp-move}} suffice, the Redirect category shell template will detect the protection level(s) and categorize the redirect automatically. (Also, the categories will be automatically removed or changed when and if protection is lifted, raised or lowered.) Thank you in advance! P.I. Ellsworth , ed. ^{put'er there} 00:40, 2 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Done Additionally, I have reduced the permissions to template editor level. It remained fully protected as the move was done before the template editor group was created and no one went back to lower the protection level when the group was created. – robertsky (talk) 01:38, 2 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much, editor robertsky! P.I. Ellsworth , ed. ^{put'er there} 01:49, 2 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Proposing to add a variable to get the nominator name

It is requested that an edit be made to the template-protected template at Template:Article for deletion.
(edit · history · last · links · sandbox · edit sandbox · sandbox history · sandbox last edit · sandbox diff · test cases · transclusion count · protection log)

This template must be followed by a complete and specific description of the request, so that an editor unfamiliar with the subject matter could complete the requested edit immediately.

Edit requests to template-protected pages should only be used for edits that are either uncontroversial or supported by consensus. If the proposed edit might be controversial, discuss it on the protected page's talk page before using this template. Consider making changes first to the template's sandbox and test them thoroughly here before submitting an edit request. To request that a page be protected or unprotected, make a protection request. When the request has been completed or denied, please add the |answered=yes parameter to deactivate the template.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some solutions to improve an edit filter related to this template. Here's the link to the discussion: Wikipedia:Edit filter noticeboard#About filter 174.

The function of this filter is to prevent new users from removing AfD templates. It's working fine, however, in some cases when the nominator withdraws their nomination and removes the AfD template, the filter also prevents them (if they're a new user). The solution I'm proposing to improve the filter requires adding an variable to this template to get the nominator name.

My suggestion is to add the following code to the template:

The PROD template is using this method to get the nominator name so I think this addition is completely applicable to this template. However I'm not sure if there is a consensus. Annh07 (talk) 19:59, 26 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Added a TPER tag, I like this proposal. --FaviFake (talk) 15:03, 18 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Please link to a place where this proposal has been tested. – Jonesey95 (talk) 23:01, 19 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Proposal to shorten the wording

This notice takes up a lot of space at the top of articles, so I would like to shorten the wording as much as possible. Here is a proposal for revising the last paragraph.

Current: Feel free to improve the article, but do not remove this notice before the discussion is closed. For more information, see the guide to deletion.

Proposed: Feel free to improve the article or read the guide to deletion, but do not remove this notice.

The most controversial part is likely removing the words "before the discussion is closed". My rationale is: 1. The template is automatically removed by the XfDcloser script, which to my knowledge is used by all AfD closers. 2. The invisible comments surrounding this template and the instructions at WP:CLOSEAFD also explain when to remove this template. 3. AfDs should only be closed by experienced editors, who would then know when this template can be removed. So those five words are unnecessary.

I will notify WT:AfD of this discussion. Toadspike [Talk] 16:26, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think moving the bit about seeing the guide to deletion into that sentence causes lack of clarity; before, the sentence was about "it's okay to edit, but don't edit this one thing". I'd be fine with just the removal of "before the discussion is closed" part. -- Nat Gertler (talk) 18:15, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's fair. Something that peeves me, but for which I do not yet have a solution, is that the template links to the extremely long WP:Deletion policy and the even longer WP:Guide to deletion. The former probably even violates WP:EASTEREGG, which may be an accessibility issue. I guess it's good to cover our bases, but are we really doing newbies a favor with this? Toadspike [Talk] 20:01, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]