View source for Wikipedia:Cross-namespace redirects

{{Short description|Redirects from one namespace to another}}
{{Redirect|WP:CNR|the wikiproject about Montenegrin (ISO code: CNR) and Montenegro|Wikipedia:WikiProject Montenegro}}
{{for|the speedy deletion criteria|WP:CSD#R2}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Essay|WP:XNR|WP:CNR|WP:CROSS}}
'''Cross-namespace redirects''' are [[WP:Redirect|redirect]]s from one [[Help:Namespace|namespace]] to another. The term is most often applied to redirects from the [[WP:Article namespace|main (article) namespace]] to the [[WP:project namespace|Wikipedia (project) namespace]]. There have been various debates over the use of cross-namespace redirects,<ref>See debates regarding pages entitled [[Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion/Redirect Archives/July 2006#Various cross-name space redirects|"Redirect archives"]], [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Votes for deletion (2nd nomination)|"Votes for deletion"]] and [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Deletion review/Log/2006 July 1|oldid=64383502}} several others].</ref> and the issue remains moderately controversial.

Currently, the general consensus seems to be that most newly created cross-namespace redirects from the [[WP:Article namespace|main (article) namespace]] to the [[WP:Project namespace|Wikipedia (project) namespace]] should be deleted, that very old ones might retain their value for extra-Wikipedia links. Redirects from mainspace to Draftspace or Userspace are normally speedy deleted. Similarly redirects from Portal namespace to Draft caused by moves are deleted because we don't want to lead readers into areas where pages are under construction.

: ''Latest relevant discussion: [[Wikipedia:Village pump (policy)/Archive 112#RFC: On the controversy of the pseudo-namespace shortcuts]], <small>December 2013 – February 2014</small>''

== Speedy deletion ==
Cross-namespace redirects from mainspace to userspace and draftspace are rapidly deleted per [[WP:CSD#R2]].<blockquote>'''R2. Cross-namespace redirects'''<br/>
This applies to redirects (apart from [[Wikipedia:Shortcut|shortcuts]]) from the [[Wikipedia:Main namespace|main namespace]] to any other namespace ''except'' the '''Category:''', '''Template:''', '''Wikipedia:''', '''Help:''' and '''Portal:''' namespaces.</blockquote>

==Overview of the debate==
Many of these arguments concern mainly redirects from the article namespace to organisational namespaces, like Wikipedia or Template; they may not be as applicable to redirects to other content namespaces, like Category. Also, while redirects from Wikipedia namespace to, say, Template are technically cross-namespace, they do not break the division between encyclopaedic content and organisational side of the project, and therefore their existence does not generally raise objections.

===Arguments for deleting CNRs===
:''Related [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines#Guidelines|guidelines]]: [[Wikipedia:Avoid self-references]], [[Wikipedia:Redirects#Reasons for deleting]] (reason #6), [[Wikipedia:Verbatim copying]]''
#CNRs are bad because they result in a person (reader) walking around a museum (encyclopedia) and falling through a [[trapdoor]] into a staff-only area (project space) because the curators (editors) thought secret doors and false floors would be useful for them to get around. 
#[[Wikipedia:Namespace|Namespaces]] were created for a reason, so that the encyclopedic content would be separate.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=prev&oldid=65045226}} this diff]</ref> CNRs work against this.
#The filters in the Wikipedia search function exist for a reason, to fine-tune search results. Some encyclopedic searches results wind up featuring a large number of Wikipedia namespace pages due to cross-namespace redirects; making the reader user weed through them manually.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=prev&oldid=64872700}} this diff]</ref> Search filters should work, not return extraneous results.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=prev&oldid=65078238}} this diff]</ref> (For example, searching the encyclopedia for a term "page update" (which is hardly a Wikipedia specific term) will return CNRs as the first four results, and we should not be requiring readers to sift through non-encyclopedic background noise when they were explicitly searching the encyclopedia.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=prev&oldid=63397037}} this diff]</ref>) For the reader who has deliberately unselected the box because they don't want Wikipedia namespace results, it is unfair to return them anyway. With CNRs, a reader can choose to search Wikipedia by ticking the box, but they have no option not to do so. Without CNRs, readers wishing to search Wikipedia namespace can do so, and those who do not want to can also do so. Thus, the existence of CNRs removes choice.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia talk:Cross-namespace redirects|diff=66561971&oldid=66540165}} this diff]</ref>
#Some mirrors duplicate the main [[Wikipedia:Main namespace|article namespace]] but not the project namespace.  Thus, cross-namespace redirects end up creating thousands of broken links on mirrors.  Per [[Wikipedia:Self-references to avoid]] we should link to stuff outside of the article namespace with external links; see [[Wikipedia]] as an example.
#Some CNRs result from moving fledgling articles to the [[Wikipedia:Drafts|Draft namespace]] for [[Wikipedia:Drafts#Incubation|incubation]]. The resulting redirect then points readers to a draft article that is not ready for inclusion in the encyclopedia, which is not ideal. Once the draft is brought up to a standard for article status, an administrator must then delete the redirect in order to allow the draft to be moved back to the article namespace, requiring additional effort in listing the [[Wikipedia:Requested moves/Technical requests|technical move request]] and waiting for intervention by busy [[Wikipedia:Administrators|administrators]].

===Arguments for keeping CNRs===
:''Related [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines#Guidelines|guideline]]: [[Wikipedia:Redirects#Reasons for not deleting]] reason #5''
#For redirects which have been extensively used on Talk and User pages, the cost of orphaning the redirect is high.
#Useful to some people. One purpose of WP is to explain obscure references.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=next&oldid=64868038}} this diff]</ref>
#Many CNRs are very unlikely search terms when looking for articles anyway. If someone searches for "articles for deletion", it's only logical that they are looking for [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion]], and not for any encyclopedia article. This is essentially a counter-argument to the first [[#Arguments for deleting CNRs|argument for deleting CNRs]].
#Otherwise the newbie users for whom these redirects are useful would be left up the creek.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|Wikipedia:Redirects_for_deletion&diff=prev&oldid=64876659}} this diff]</ref> In most cases, users who type such names in the search box expect to be taken to its other-namespace target.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=prev&oldid=63070525}} this diff]</ref> New users can't be expected to know to add "WP:" to their search.
#CNRs aid in accidental linking.<ref>based on [{{fullurl:Wikipedia:Redirects for deletion|diff=prev&oldid=65523419}} this diff]</ref>
#They're easier to type.
#If they're acceptable, then Wikipedia requires no policy on cross-namespace redirects. [[Wikipedia:Avoid instruction creep|Simplifying policy]] improves odds that newbies and policy non-wonks understand/follow policy.
#Often, the redirect is a holdover from before the creation of the alternate namespace version.  The redirect may hold history of the page.  ([[Wikipedia:Redirect#Reasons for not deleting|WP:R reason #1]])
#Redirects that are used exclusively on User, Talk, and other project pages do not create confusion.  Readers of the article-space only (whether at Wikipedia or through a mirror that copies only our article-space) are unlikely to fall "backstage", because these "trapdoors" (or more accurately, "access ports") are only being left in the maintenance areas.

===Technical details===
*Currently the default search filter is set to main namespace only.
*Wikipedia has many more readers than editors.
*Currently, many disambiguation links have entries that point to the Wikipedia namespace, serving the same function as cross-namespace redirects.
*In some cases an encyclopedic article may be written on the Wikipedia topic such as [[Deletion of articles on Wikipedia]] of which the likes of [[Articles for deletion]] redirects to, a hatnote may then direct to the project space.

==See also==
* [[:Category:Cross-namespace redirects]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Wikipedia redirecting]]