In Wikipedia, transclusion is the inclusion of content from a source page, often a template, into the content of a target page. This happens each time the target page is viewed. Transclusion differs from substitution, which copies the source page into the target page once and permanently.
Similar to creating a wikilink using double square brackets (<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Pagename</syntaxhighlight>), a page can be transcluded as a template by enclosing its title in double curly braces or double curly brackets: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Namespace:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>. Any changes made to the source page, or template, are automatically reflected on all pages that include the transcluded content.Template:Refn
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> is the same as <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Stochastic process</syntaxhighlight> will transclude from the page Stochastic process (an article, in the Main namespace)
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">{{Wikipedia:Assume good faith}}</syntaxhighlight> will transclude from the page Wikipedia:Assume good faith
Transclusion and what content it includes or excludes can be modified by using the invisible wikitext tags <noinclude>, <onlyinclude>, <includeonly>, and <section> on the source page, as further outlined in § Transclusion markup.Template:Refn The first three tags enable § Partial transclusion, as opposed to the default behavior of double curly braces, which will transclude the entire source page's content. For § Selective transclusion, the <includeonly> or <section> tags can be used and sections of the source page named, then using parser functions the template can be called with the section name as a parameter: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">{{#section:Pagename|Sectionname}}</syntaxhighlight>.
Transclusion events occur each time the target page is loaded and the template is rendered. A related event is Substitution, where a template call is replaced with its transcluded source content at the time it is invoked in a one-time inclusion of the content. Unlike transclusion, which continuously updates the target page with changes from the source, substitution results in a one-time inclusion of the content, meaning that subsequent updates to the source content will not be reflected in the target page. For example, a template call for <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> with the <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">subst:</syntaxhighlight> prefix results in the substitution template call <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">{{subst:Pagename}}</syntaxhighlight>. When invoked, this template is replaced, also referred to as substituted, with the actual wikitext of the source page at the time of the call, thereby making it a permanent part of the target page.Template:Refn
To transclude content from a source page within a single MediaWiki project (such as English Wikipedia) onto a target page, use {{SOURCEPAGE}} in the target page's code.
Whenever {{SOURCEPAGE}} is included on a target page, the WikiMedia software retrieves and embedes the entire content of SOURCEPAGE (i.e., Template:Fake link) at that location on the target page.
Example
Consider an example, complemented by the illustration below, with target pages A, P, and Q, and source page B.
If source page B is transcluded into A, the content from B (for instance, the word "foo") will appear in place of the {{B}} code in page A. When transcluded, this content is not highlighted or boxed on the target page – it is integrated directly into the page's text (highlighted here only for illustration).
Transclusion creates a 'live' link between a source page and all target pages where its content is transcluded to and used. Editing the source page automatically updates its content on all target pages that include it.
For example, if you create a source page with details about a Wikimedia event and transclude it onto the talk pages of 50 editors you wish to invite, any updates you make to the source page (such as changing the event location) will immediately reflect on all 50 talk pages.
Edit source pages with caution
Edits to a source page can impact all target pages using it. If a source page also contains its own transclusions from other source pages, avoid changes that may break these links, as this would affect the source page you are editing and all target pages that transclude it. This is known as 'breakage', and it is best to ensure any updates maintain the integrity of transcluded content across all pages. For example, Main Page is a large page that transcludes its content from multiple embed source pages such as Wikipedia:Today's featured list.
Transclusion syntax
The general syntax for transclusion on Wikipedia follows the format <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Namespace:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>, where Namespace:Pagename specifies the title of a Wikipedia page.
Similar to creating a wikilink using double square brackets (<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Pagename</syntaxhighlight>), a page can be transcluded as a template by enclosing its title in double curly braces: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Namespace:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>. Any changes made to the source page, or template, are automatically reflected on all pages that include the transcluded content.Template:Refn
Wikipedia is structured using namespaces, which organize pages based on their function. For example, a page titled Template:Xtn belongs to the Wikipedia namespace, with Wikipedia: as its namespace and Tips as its pagename. However, articles in the Main namespace, such as Template:Xtn, do not require a namespace prefix when linked using <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Potato</syntaxhighlight>, as Wikipedia assumes any wikilink without a specified namespace belongs to the Article namespace.
When transcluding pages, if no namespace is specified, Wikipedia defaults to the Template namespace. To reference a page in the Article namespace within transclusion syntax, it must be explicitly prefixed with a colon Template:Char (e.g., <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Potato</syntaxhighlight>).
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> or <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> will transclude the content of Template:Xtn. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Pagename</syntaxhighlight> will transclude the mainspace article titled Template:Xtn. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Namespace:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> transcludes a page in the defined namespace, such as Template:Xtn.
Specifying namespace: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Namespace:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> will transclude the page titled <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Namespace:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>. For example, if a page has the wikitext <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>{{Wikipedia:Notability}}</syntaxhighlight> in it, it will transclude the page Template:Xtn into it. Please note that <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:WP:Notability</syntaxhighlight> would do exactly the same thing, as WP: is a namespace alias, which is automatically translated by the Wikipedia servers to Wikipedia:.
Calling from the Article namespace: If the namespace is omitted, but the colon is included, like <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Pagename</syntaxhighlight>, the mainspace article Pagename will be transcluded. For example, <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Notability</syntaxhighlight> will transclude the article Template:Xtn.
Template namespace: If both namespace and colon are omitted, like <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>, the Template:Pagename will be transcluded. For example <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Notability</syntaxhighlight>, and also <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Notability</syntaxhighlight>, will both transclude the Template:Xtn.
Additionally, specific § Template parameters and § Transclusion modifiers allow parameters to be passed to templates, alter how transclusion occurs, and therefore the output customized. This is explained in more detail below.
Subpages
Subpages, identifiable by a / prefixed in their page names, are pages related to a 'parent' page (e.g., Namespace:Pagename/Subpagename is a subpage of Namespace:Pagename). This feature is disabled in the Main, File, and MediaWiki namespaces, but not on their corresponding talk namespaces.
On the parent page of a subpage, the more specific general syntax mentioned above can be used or simply <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Help:Transclusion/Subpagename</syntaxhighlight>.
For a template namespace page, it is either the general syntax or <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Pagename/Subpagename</syntaxhighlight>.
Article subpages are disabled on this wiki, but would otherwise be <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Pagename/Subpagename</syntaxhighlight>.
For example, to transclude Template:Xtn, you could use <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Like/doc</syntaxhighlight> or <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Like/doc</syntaxhighlight>. Note that subpage names are case sensitive, and <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Like/Doc</syntaxhighlight> would lead to a different page.
The most common use of transclusion on Wikipedia is for templates. Templates are specially designed pages intended to be included in other pages using either transclusion or substitution. The standard syntax for transcluding a template titled Template:Xtn is <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight>.
Additionally, many templates support parameters, which are variables that allow templates to function in different ways by passing specific values, also termed arguments. Templates may have no parameters, use a fixed number of parameters, or support a variable number of parameters. The number of parameters a template can accept ranges from one to multiple, depending on its design.
The exact syntax for using parameters varies by template. However, for a hypothetical template titled Template:Xtn that accepts three parameters, the general format would be:
Template:Shortcut
Where each parameter in a template can be substituted with either a value or a |parameter name=value format when used in practice. Notice that each parameter is separated by a vertical bar (|). Parameters that take the form value are called unnamed or positional parameters, while those in the form |parameter name=value are known as named parameters. With unnamed parameters, the first, second, and third parameters correspond to |1=, |2=, |3=, respectively, etc., in template documentation. Unnamed parameters must be provided in the correct order and are best placed before named parameters.Template:Refn
For example, using the Template:Xtn with two unnamed parameters and one named parameter:
In this case, This is the title text and This is a custom warning line are the values of unnamed parameters |1= and |2=, while true is the value assigned to the named parameter |left=. The last example shows how unnamed parameters should not be used after named parameters without their 'name'. Although this example includes three parameters, Template:Xtn can accept a variable number of parameters.
For more details, see Help:Template. Additionally, Wikipedia:Template index provides a categorized list of templates, including those for mainspace and other namespaces, along with a search function. Template parameters also play a role in the § Parametrization method of § Selective transclusion, allowing for more dynamic content inclusion.
Transclusion events occur each time the target page is loaded and the template is rendered. A related event is Substitution, where a template call is replaced with its transcluded source content at the time it is invoked in a one-time inclusion of the content. Unlike transclusion, which continuously updates the target page with changes from the source, substitution results in a one-time inclusion of the content, meaning that subsequent updates to the source content will not be reflected in the target page. For example, a template call for <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:Pagename</syntaxhighlight> with the <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">subst:</syntaxhighlight> prefix results in the substitution template call <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">{{subst:Pagename}}</syntaxhighlight>. When invoked, this template is replaced, also referred to as substituted, with the actual wikitext of the source page at the time of the call, thereby making it a permanent part of the target page.Template:Refn
For example, when <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">{{subst:Like}}</syntaxhighlight> is inserted in a page and the changes published, it would substitute that wikitext with the actual wikitext from Template:Xtn. In practice, subsequent updates to Template:Xtnwill not be reflected in the page it was substituted into.
Magic words are not examples of transclusion. But some have a near identical double curly bracket syntax and similar action to transclusion. For example, <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Help:Transclusion</syntaxhighlight> renders the full page name of any Wikipedia page, for example it returns Help:Transclusion on this page. Like templates, some magic words can also take parameters, which are separated using a colon (:); for example <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Help talk:Transclusion</syntaxhighlight> returns Help talk:Transclusion.
Templates do exist for some magic words, for example Template:FULLPAGENAME; but these just invoke the related magic word and pass parameters using the verticle bar (|) to the magic word in anycase; for example like <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:FULLPAGENAME</syntaxhighlight>. But magic words parameters are best passed directly by using a colon, which bypasses the unnecessary use of a template call too. For example, <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Template:FULLPAGENAME</syntaxhighlight> is synonymous with <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Value</syntaxhighlight>, where the latter is preferred.
A transclusion modifier is a type of specialist magic word for altering transclusion in some manner. An example of which is the subst: modifier discussed above in § Substitution. Another example is <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="">Notability</syntaxhighlight>, where the colon character (:) forces transclusion to the main namespace. There are additional transclusion modifiers such as safesubst:, int:, msg:, msgnw:, and raw:. For more details on their usage, see mw:Help:Magic words § Transclusion modifiers. Also see the modified commands #section:, #section-x: and #section-h: used for labeled section transclusion, see Help:Labeled section transclusion and the section § Using the labeled section method.
Usage
Transclusion is commonly used in templates, allowing content to be embedded dynamically across multiple pages. However, it is also applied in other contexts, particularly within project space, where it facilitates the management of structured content.
Composite pages are created by transcluding multiple component pages, either entirely or in part, into a central page. The wikitext of a composite page may include HTML tags to embed content, typically from standalone pages that are not part of the template namespace. The primary purpose of composite pages is to consolidate related content for easier access.
The use of composite pages allows users to view multiple related pages in one location rather than navigating through individual links.
Characteristics
Composite pages function independently from their component pages in several ways. While changes made to a component page are reflected on the composite page, the composite page maintains its own edit history, recent changes log, page-watch settings, and protection levels, separate from those of its transcluded content.
The talk page of a composite page is used specifically for discussions about the composite itself rather than for the individual component pages it includes. However, in some cases, a composite talk page may also transclude discussions from its component pages, allowing for a centralized discussion space.
When editing, users can modify sections of a component page directly from the composite page by selecting the edit section links generated by {{transcluding article}}, {{transcluded section}} and {{excerpt}}, which all employ {{transclusion notice}} to generate the notice. Once changes are saved, they are applied to the original component page, ensuring consistency across all instances where the content appears.
For projects that support interlanguage links, a composite page aggregates all interlanguage links from its component pages. This can sometimes lead to multiple links pointing to the same language or page, reflecting the structure of the transcluded content.
Pages with a common section
Template:Shortcut
When two pages need to discuss the same material in the same way, they can share a section. For example, a section of an existing page may be transcluded to other pages. This may also involve creating a third page and transcluding that page onto both pages. This third page may be a standalone page in its own right for another purpose, or a subpage of either of the other two – except in the mainspace, where subpages are not allowed. The third page may be placed in the same namespace as the other pages or in template namespace – again, except for use in mainspace, where templates should not be used to store article text, as this makes it more difficult to edit the content (see Wikipedia:Template namespace). Common sections like this should be marked with an explanatory header, such as using the templates {{transcluding article}} or {{transcluded section}} to create hatnotes above the transcluded content, and/or given a special layout, to inform the reader that this section of the page is in a different location, since transcluding shared article sections can easily confuse novice editors and readers alike if left unmarked. All templates can be found at Category:Transclude page content templates.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt transcludes the introduction of HitRecord into a summary section of the same name, rather than maintaining two copies of the identical text.
On pages with a lot of repetitive information – typically lists or tables – it can be useful to create a template that contains the repeating text, and then call that template multiple times. For example, {{EH listed building row}} is used repeatedly to build tables in many articles.
For simple repetition of the same text, you can use a template like Template:Tlxc. For instance, {{3x|howdy!}} produces: Template:3x
Partial transclusion
Template:Shortcut
By using <noinclude>, <includeonly> and <onlyinclude> markup, it is possible to transclude part of a page, rather than all of it. Such partial transclusions can be achieved by transcluding from any pages, including subpages. It is often useful to exclude part of a page in a transclusion, an example being with template documentation.
For an example of how this technique can be applied to simplify the creation of summary articles, see how part of the History of pathology (see the diff here) was transcluded into Pathology (see the diff here) using the <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>History of pathology</syntaxhighlight> markup. The Pathology article at that time (see here) mainly consisted of transcluded lead paragraphs and other sections from a number of articles. Since then, the Pathology article has been rewritten, and does not include all these transclusions.
Another example can be found in the transclusion of part of HitRecord (introductory paragraph only) into a same-named summary section in Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
In transclusion, a source page is transcluded into a destination page. But with partial transclusion, only part of that source page will be transcluded into a destination page. In addition, what is transcluded to a destination page does not have to be visible on the source page.
Page rendering of a source page can be defined as the rendering of that source page when it is saved, which will be the same as the preview. We can call this rendering here.
Transclusion rendering of a source page can be defined as the rendering of a destination page that has a source page transcluded into it; but only that part of the destination page that was transcluded from the source page. The preview of the transclusion rendering will again be identical. We can call this rendering there.
There are three pairs of tags involved in cases where page rendering here should differ from transclusion rendering there. As described earlier, these are <noinclude>, <includeonly> and <onlyinclude>. These tags are invisible, but affect both page rendering here and transclusion rendering there. These tags pair-off to demarcate sections that will create differences. Each tag will describe exceptions to transcluding the whole page named.
<noinclude> This section is visible here; but this section is not visible there. Sections outside of these tags will be visible both here and there. </noinclude>
<onlyinclude> This section is visible here; this section is also visible there. Sections outside of these tags will be visible here, but will not be visible there. </onlyinclude>
<includeonly> This section is not visible here; but it is visible there. Sections outside of these tags will be visible both here and there. </includeonly>
Wikitext
What is rendered here (source page)
What is transcluded there (destination page)
<noinclude>text1</noinclude> text2
text1 text2
text2
<onlyinclude>text1</onlyinclude> text2
text1 text2
text1
<includeonly>text1</includeonly> text2
text2
text1 text2
An important point to note is that <noinclude> and <onlyinclude> do not affect what is page rendered here at all, unlike <includeonly>. The <noinclude> tags stops text inside the tags being transcluded there, while <onlyinclude> has the opposite effect: it stops text outside of the tags from being transcluded there.
Only <includeonly> stops text from being page rendered here. But naturally enough it is transcluded there. Text outside of the tags will be both rendered here and transcluded there.
There can be several such sections. Also, they can be nested. All possible differences between here and there are achievable.
One example is a content editor who picks an <onlyinclude> section, and then takes a <noinclude> section out of that; but then picks out yet another <onlyinclude> section to append to there; but none of this affects their article in any way.
Another example is the template programmer, who will <includeonly> the code section and <noinclude> the documentation section of a page.
Selective transclusion is the process of partially transcluding one selected section of a document that has more than one transcludable section. As noted above, if only one section of a document is to be transcluded, this can be done by simply surrounding the section of interest with <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline> … </syntaxhighlight> tags, and transcluding the whole page. However, to selectively transclude one section from a template or document into one page, and another section from the same template or document into a second page and/or a different section of the same page, requires a way to:
a) uniquely mark each transcludable section in the source document; and
b) in the target document(s) (those to show the transcluded sections), a way to specify which section is to be transcluded.
This section describes how to accomplish this. There are three ways of doing this: (1) Section header-based transclusion, (2) Labeled section transclusion, and (3) the parametrization method.
This method may cause line break insertion: Standard section transclusion may introduce a leading or trailing line break or newline, depending on the markup in the source and target pages. To prevent this, wrap the transclusion code in a {{trim}} template. See examples.
This method does not work if the target is using hidden anchors: If the target section title contains hidden anchors using <syntaxhighlight inline lang=wikitext></syntaxhighlight> tags inside the section header, this header-based transclusion will not work as it assumes the entirely of the section title (including such "invisible" anchor spans. In such a case, use use the labeled section method instead.
Standard section transclusion uses <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>{{#section-h:PAGENAME|SECTIONNAME}}</syntaxhighlight>. One can easily transclude the content within a section from one page to another using the ubiquitous headline-based section headers used throughout Wikipedia. To transclude the lead section of an article with this method, one can use {{{1}}}. This method is simpler than other selective transclusion methods, which require special markup in the source article or page to specify what content should be included or excluded.
Standard section transclusion may introduce a leading or trailing line break or newline, depending on the markup in the source and target pages. To prevent this, wrap the transclusion code in a {{trim}} template. For example:
To transclude the section of an article: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>{{#section-h:PAGENAME|SECTIONNAME}}</syntaxhighlight>
To transclude the lead of an article: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>{{#section-h:PAGENAME}}</syntaxhighlight>
Hatnote on the target page
To indicate on the target page where selectively transcluded content originates (its source), a {{Transcluded section}}hatnote must be placed at the top of the corresponding section in the target page where the content is being transcluded to.Template:RefnTemplate:Refn Use either of the following, depending on whether the transcluded content is the entire section or only part of it:
If an entire section in the target page is transcluded the source: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Transcluded section</syntaxhighlight>, which renders as:
If only part of a section in the target page is transcluded the source, specify |part=yes: <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Template:Transcluded section</syntaxhighlight>, which renders as:
It is recommended to include a hidden comment at the beginning of the transcluded section in the source page. This comment informs editors that the content is being used elsewhere and serves as a reminder to consider the broader audience when modifying the wording. Additionally, it helps maintain the integrity of the transcluded material on the target page. For example (replace [[PAGENAME#SECTION]] with the name of the target page):
No hatnote should be placed on the source page, in other words no hatnote is needed on the page being transcluded from, as readers do not need to know where else the content appears.
On the target section you wish to transclude, add a <section begin="YourSectionLabel" /> at the start of the section
Followed by your normal text of the section
At the end of the section, place a <section end="YourSectionLabel" />
On the page you want to add the transclusion to:
Place: {{#section:page name|YourSectionLabel}}
Parametrization method
Source document markup
Insert the following line into the "source" document (the one from which text is to be transcluded), immediately preceding the first line of each section to be transcluded, substituting SECTIONNAME (twice) with the unique name of the respective section. The section name can be any identifier and must be unique within that document:
To transclude a section marked as above into another page (the "target page"), use the following line on that page, substituting PAGENAME for the "source" document from which text to be transcluded, and SECTIONNAME with the name of the section you want to transclude:
Thus each section enclosed within <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline> … </syntaxhighlight> tags will always be rendered when the transcludesection parameter is not set (when the document is viewed ordinarily, or when the document is transcluded without setting the transcludesection parameter as shown below), and will be rendered by transclusion on any page that does set transcludesection to the section's name. It will not be rendered by transclusion that uses the transcludesection parameter but sets it to anything other than the name of the section.
Also, when providing PAGENAME, without providing a Namespace, the wiki will assume that the PAGENAME belongs in the Template Namespace. To transclude from a Mainspace article, use :PAGENAME.
If we want to make the "Principal Criteria" and "Common Name" sections of WP:TITLE be independently transcludable, we edit the WP:TITLE page and enclose the "Principal Criteria" section as follows:
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">
...
(text of "Principal Criteria" section)
...
</syntaxhighlight>
Similarly, we enclose the "Common Name" section with:
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">
...
(text of "Common Name" section)
...
</syntaxhighlight>
Then, to transclude the "Principal Criteria" section into another page, we insert into that page:
Of course, the same page can transclude two or more sections this way by including multiple such lines.
There is no limit to how many selectable sections for transclusion a document can have. The only requirement is that each transcludesection be given a value that is unique within that page.
Additional markup for selectively transcluded sub-article leads
Per Template:Sectionlink, the first instance of the sub-article title should appear in bold in the first lead sentence of that article; this is often not desirable for a transclusion to a section of the parent article. In addition, the parent article is often wikilinked in the lead of a sub-article; when transcluded to the parent article, this wikilink will appear as bold text. The wikitext markup listed below can be used to address both of these problems.
To ensure that the article title is bolded in the first sentence of the sub-article, but unbolded and wikilinked in the transclusion to the parent article, make the following replacement in the sub-article's first lead sentence:
If there is a wikilink to the parent article in the lead section of the sub-article, replacing the wikilink to the parent article with a {{no selflink}} template will ensure that it is wikilinked in the sub-article's lead but not in the transclusion to the parent article. In other words:
If the wikilink to the parent article is not a WP:Piped link, replace [[PARENT_ARTICLE]] with {{no selflink|PARENT_ARTICLE}} in the sub-article's lead
Like many software technologies, transclusion comes with a number of drawbacks. The most obvious one being the cost in terms of increased machine resources needed; to mitigate this to some extent, template limits are imposed by the software to reduce the complexity of pages. Some further drawbacks are listed below.
{{excerpt}} and related templates may require using <noinclude>, <includeonly>, and <onlyinclude> markup at the transcluded page to have selective content; that would require monitoring that the markup is sustained.
Excerpts cause editors to monitor transcluded pages for "section heading" changes to ensure transclusion continues to work. (To help mitigate this, see MOS:BROKENSECTIONLINKS)
Excerpts can result in content discussions over multiple talk pages that may have different considerations or objectives for readers.
</syntaxhighlight> – the five most recent changes.
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>
No changes during the given period match these criteria.
</syntaxhighlight> – recent changes to the pages linked from "General".
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>
User account "Larry Sanger" is not registered.
No changes were found matching these criteria.
</syntaxhighlight> – user contributions prior to November 2002, limited to 50.
Attempting to transclude <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Special:Categories</syntaxhighlight> will not result in an actual list of categories, but <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>
Except for <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>Special:RecentChangesLinked</syntaxhighlight>, the slash, and the word or number after the slash, can be omitted, giving a list of pages without a specific starting point, or a list of the default length.
URL parameters can be given like template parameters:
Transclusion occurs before parsing and can emit syntax fragments, like HTML entities, to preserve them in the final render. The content being transcluded is processed and embedded before the target page is parsed and fully rendered. When transclusion happens at the HTML layer before parsing, it allows certain content – like syntax fragments such as character entity references like & and mp; or specific HTML components – to be inserted in their original form and preserved in the final render. However, this approach may cause pages to render incorrectly or violate the principle of least surprise for the reader.Template:Refn It should be used sparingly when cleaner alternatives are not available. Emitting fragments of template syntax, such as opening braces ({{}}), is unlikely to re-parse correctly as template syntax in the target page, and it is unwise to rely on such behavior unless formally documented.
