Editing Incubator escapee wiki:Protection policy (section)

== Protection by namespace ==
{{Policy shortcut|WP:PROTNS}}

=== <span id="Talk pages"></span>Article talk pages<span class="anchor" id="Talk pages"></span><span class="anchor" id="full-talk"></span><!--former tag allows section referencing while accommodating section name changes. DO NOT REMOVE IT.--> ===
{{Policy shortcut|WP:ATPROT}}
Modifications to a protected page can be proposed on its [[Wikipedia:Talk page|talk page]] (or at another appropriate forum) for discussion. Administrators can make changes to the protected article reflecting [[Wikipedia:Consensus|consensus]]. Placing the {{tlx|Edit protected}} template on the talk page will draw the attention of administrators for implementing uncontroversial changes.

Talk pages are not usually protected, and are semi-protected only for a limited duration in the most severe cases of disruption.

=== User talk pages<span class="anchor" id="Talk-page protection"></span> ===
{{Policy shortcut|WP:UTPROT}}
User talk pages are rarely protected. However, protection can be applied if there is severe vandalism or abuse. Users whose talk pages are protected may wish to have an unprotected user talk subpage linked conspicuously from their main talk page to allow good-faith comments from users that the protection restricts editing from.

A user's request to have their own talk page protected is not a sufficient rationale by itself to protect the page, although requests can be considered if a reason is provided.

==== Blocked users ====
Blocked users' user talk pages should not ordinarily be protected, as this interferes with the user's ability to contest their block through the normal process. It also prevents others from being able to use the talk page to communicate with the blocked editor.

In extreme cases of abuse by the blocked user, such as abuse of the {{tl|unblock}} template, re-blocking the user with talk page access removed should be preferred over applying protection to the page. If the user has been blocked and with the ability to edit their user talk page disabled, they should be informed of this in a block notice, subsequent notice, or message, and it should include information and instructions for appealing their block off-wiki, such as through the [[WP:UTRS|UTRS tool interface]] or, as a last recourse, [[Wikipedia:Appealing a block#Routes to unblock|the Arbitration Committee]].

When required, protection should be implemented for only a brief period, not exceeding the duration of the block.

Confirmed socks of registered users should be dealt with in accordance with [[Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry]]; their pages are not normally protected.

=== User pages ===
{{Policy shortcut|WP:UPROT|WP:UPPROT}}

Base user pages (for example, the page User:Example, and not User:Example/subpage or User talk:Example) are automatically protected from creation or editing by unconfirmed accounts and anonymous IP users. An exception to this includes an unconfirmed registered account attempting to create or edit their own user page. IP editors and unconfirmed accounts are also unable to create or edit user pages that do not belong to a currently registered account. This protection is enforced by [[Special:AbuseFilter/803|an edit filter]].<ref>Please refer to [[Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Protect user pages by default]] and [[Wikipedia talk:Requests for comment/Protect user pages by default|its talk page]] for community discussion related to a preventative measure for user pages.</ref> Users may opt-out of this protection by placing {{tlx|unlocked userpage}} anywhere on their own user page.

[[Wikipedia:User pages|User pages]] and subpages within their own user space can be protected upon a request from the user, as long as a need exists. Pages within the user space should not be automatically or preemptively protected without good reason or cause.<ref>Per discussion at {{Section link|Wikipedia talk:Protection policy/Archive 15#Own userspace pages protection policy}}, June 2013</ref><ref>Per discussion at {{Section link|Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Archive314#Protecting an editor's user page or user space per their request}}, September 2019</ref> Requests for protection specifically at uncommon levels (such as template protection) can be granted if the user has expressed a genuine and realistic need.

When a filter is insufficient to stop user page vandalism, a user may choose to create a ".css" subpage (ex. User:Example/Userpage.css), copy all the contents of their user page onto the subpage, transclude the subpage by putting {{tlf|User:Example/Userpage.css}} on their user page, and then ask an administrator to fully protect their user page. Because user space pages that end in ".css" and ".js" are editable only by the user to which that user space belongs (and interface administrators), this will protect one's user page from further vandalism.

==== Deceased users ====
{{See also|Wikipedia:Deceased Wikipedians/Guidelines}}

In the event of the confirmed death of a user, the user's user page (but not the user talk page) should be fully protected.

=== Protection of templates ===
{{shortcut|WP:PTPROT}}
{{see also|Wikipedia:High-risk templates|Wikipedia:Template documentation}}
Highly visible templates{{snd}}those used on a large number of pages or frequently substituted{{snd}}are often protected based on the degree of visibility, type of use, content, and other considerations.

Protected templates should normally have the {{tl|documentation}} template. It loads the unprotected <code>/doc</code> page, so that non-admins and IP-users can edit the documentation, categories and interwiki links. It also automatically adds {{tl|pp-template}} to protected templates, which displays a small padlock in the top right corner and categorizes the template as protected. Only manually add {{tlf|pp-template}} to protected templates that do not use {{tlf|documentation}} (mostly the flag templates).

Cascading protection should generally not be applied directly to templates, as it will not protect transclusions inside {{tag|includeonly|o}} tags or transclusions that depend on template parameters, but ''will'' protect the template's [[Wikipedia:Template documentation|documentation subpage]]. Instead, consider any of the following:
* If the set of subtemplates is static (even if large), protect them using normal protection mechanisms.
* If the set of subtemplates is unbounded, use [[MediaWiki:Titleblacklist]] to protect all subtemplates using a particular naming format (as is done for [[WP:Editnotice|editnotice templates]] and subtemplates of [[Template:TFA title]]).

Note: All [[WP:Editnotice|editnotice templates]] (except those in userspace) are already protected via [[MediaWiki:Titleblacklist]]. They can be edited by admins, [[WP:Template editor|template editors]] and [[WP:Page mover|page movers]] only.

=== Sandboxes ===
{{see also|Wikipedia:About the sandbox}}

Sandboxes should not ordinarily be protected since their purpose is to let new users test and experiment with [[Help:wiki markup|wiki syntax]]. Most sandboxes are automatically cleaned every 12 hours, although they are frequently overwritten by other testing users. The [[Wikipedia:Sandbox]] is cleaned every hour. Those who use sandboxes for malicious purposes, or to violate policies such as [[Wikipedia:no personal attacks|no personal attacks]], [[Wikipedia:civility|civility]], or [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyrights]], should instead be warned and/or blocked.