MediaWiki Action API

A MediaWiki Action API is a web service interface that enables programmatic access to MediaWiki features and wiki content.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) support API Authentication through login tokens and session management.
  • It can (typically) enable content operations like page editing, file uploads, and content parsing.
  • It can (typically) handle query operations for retrieving wiki data and meta information.
  • It can (typically) provide REST endpoints at `/w/api.php` on MediaWiki instances.
  • It can (often) use HTTP GET and HTTP POST for request handling.
  • It can (often) return responses in JSON format or XML format.
  • It can (often) support client libraries in various programming languages.
  • It can range from being a Basic API Implementation to being an Advanced API Implementation, depending on its feature support.
  • It can range from being a Read-Only API to being a Full-Access API, depending on its access permissions.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • MediaWiki API Modules, such as:
    • Query Modules, such as:
      • Properties Query for page property access.
      • List Query for filtered results.
      • Meta Query for wiki information.
    • Action Modules, such as:
      • Edit Action for page modification.
      • Upload Action for file management.
      • Parse Action for content processing.
  • API Implementations, such as:
    • Wikipedia API for Wikipedia content access.
    • Wikimedia Commons API for media file access.
    • Wikidata API for structured data access.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • MediaWiki REST API, which uses modern REST architecture.
  • Database Direct Access, which bypasses API security.
  • File System Interface, which lacks web service capability.
  • Manual Edit Interface, which requires human interaction.
• See: API Endpoint, Web API, MediaWiki Software Engine, API Authentication.

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References

2024-12-23

• Perplexity.ai
  • Question: What is the MediaWiki API, its core features, and common operations? Include details about query types, implementation methods, and authentication.
  • Answer: The MediaWiki Action API is a RESTful web service that enables programmatic access to wiki features and content, allowing developers to perform various wiki operations through HTTP requests.
    • Core Features:
      • Functionality:
        • Authentication and user management.
        • Page creation and editing.
        • Content searching.
        • Meta information retrieval about wikis and users.
      • Request Structure:
        • API endpoint follows format `http://example.org/w/api.php`.
        • English Wikipedia uses `https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php`.
    • Query Types:
      • Query Modules:
        • Props: Get page properties.
        • List: Get pages matching criteria.
        • Meta: Get wiki and user meta information.
    • Common Operations:
      • Authentication Operations:
        • Login functionality through interactive flow.
        • Account creation and management.
        • Session handling.
      • Content Management:
        • Page creation and editing.
        • File uploads and management.
        • Content parsing and template expansion.
        • Cache purging.
    • Implementation Methods:
      • Access Methods:
        • HTTP GET and POST requests.
        • JavaScript via mw.Api interface.
        • Various client libraries in different programming languages.
  • Citations:

[1] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Tutorial
[2] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Query
[3] https://www.enviro.wiki/api.php?action=help&recursivesubmodules=1
[4] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Main_page
[5] https://siko1056.github.io/blog/2017/03/10/getting-to-know-the-mediawiki-api.html
[6] https://doc.wikimedia.org/mediawiki-core/master/js/
[7] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API
[8] https://ws-dl.cs.odu.edu/wiki/api.php
[9] https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki-api-demos
[10] https://wikiteq.com/post/using-mediawiki-api

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