Help:Parser functions in templates
When applying ParserFunctions to template parameters, a pipe symbol ("|") may be used to provide the empty string as default value, in order to indicate how to handle things if a parameter is or is not passed in.
- {{{1}}}
- Sample A
- {{#if: {{{1}}} | Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined and non-null/non-empty. | Parameter 1 is null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.}}
- Result
- {{#if: {{{1}}} | Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined and non-null/non-empty. | Parameter 1 is null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.}}
- {{{1|}}}
- Sample B
- {{#if: {{{1|}}} | Parameter 1 is defined and non-null/non-empty. | Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined but null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.}}
- Result
- {{#if: | Parameter 1 is defined and non-null/non-empty. | Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined but null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.}}
- Comparison
| Example of usage in a template unnamed first parameter (1=) named parameter (param=) |
Condition of parameter | Sample A: {{#if: {{{1}}}| true| false}} {{#if: {{{param}}}| true| false}} |
Sample B: {{#if: {{{1|}}}| true| false}} {{#if: {{{param|}}}| true| false}} |
|---|---|---|---|
{{template}} |
not defined: parameter not used, important for named parameters |
TRUE | FALSE |
{{template|}} .. {{template|1=}} .. {{template|param=}} |
defined, but null/empty | FALSE | FALSE |
{{template|value}} .. {{template|1=value}} .. {{template|param=value}} |
defined and NOT null neither empty |
TRUE | TRUE |
The second usage ({{{1|}}}, sample B) with present empty default is often the desired way to handle situations where a parameter exists, but is comprised only of empty space.
One way to test whether a parameter was specified in a template call is thus: {{#ifeq:{{{v|}}}|{{{v|-}}}| v was specified (and may be empty) | v was not specified }}
In rare cases, a template behaves differently when a parameter is unspecified compared to when it is specified but empty. When this template is used by a wrapper template (which uses the same set of named parameters), one way to ensure undefined parameters remain undefined is as follows (the technique also works with numbered parameters):
<!-- wrapper template code -->
{{wrapped_template|
normal_parameter={{{normal_parameter|}}}|
sensitive_parameter{{#if:{{{sensitive_parameter|}}}||NULL}}={{{sensitive_parameter}}}|
...
}}
Note that the wrapped_template receives a specified but empty normal_parameter in two cases: when normal_parameter is specified and empty, and when normal_parameter is unspecified (because the default empty value is then specified by the wrapper template).
By contrast, the wrapped_template receives a specified sensitive_parameter only when it is indeed specified, because the #if changes the wrapped_template parameter name to « sensitive_parameterNULL » when sensitive_parameter is undefined. Note also that wrapped_template receives a specified and empty sensitive_parameter only when the wrapper template receives a specified and empty sensitive_parameter. Of course, one must make sure the suffixed wrapped_template parameter name is meaningless to the wrapped_template for this to work properly.
