Template:Circa/doc

Usage

This template generates an abbreviation for circa: c. By default the abbreviation is marked with an HTML <abbr> tag, which in most browsers renders as a tooltip when hovered.

Examples

Syntax	What it looks like	Notes
{{circa|1325}}	c. 1325	Default style: no line break allowed; thin space
{{circa|1325|lk=yes}}	c. 1325	Replace abbreviation tooltip with a link to Wiktionary instead
{{circa|1325|lk=no}}	c. 1325	No abbreviation tooltip at all
{{circa|1000|1050}}	c. 1000 – c. 1050	For a range with both dates uncertain. No tooltip on the second instance of "c."
{{circa|1000–1050}}	c. 1000–1050	Another option for a range; but, per MOS:CIRCA, prefer {{circa|1000|1050}}

Parameters

Using the date itself as parameter (for example, "{{circa|1956}}", giving "c. 1956"), web browsers do not insert a line break anywhere in the string. By contrast, "{{circa}} 1956" allows a line break between the "c." and the number. Also, with the date as a parameter a thinner space is used with many browsers:

• "c. 1956" is generated by "{{circa|1956}}".
• "c. 1956" is generated by "{{circa}} 1956".

If the parameter |lk= (for "link") is set as "|lk=no" or "|lk=off", the abbreviation is rendered as "c.", without a wikilink or abbreviation element. If it is absent, or set to "|lk=abbr", the abbreviation is rendered with the HTML <abbr> element. If it is set to "|lk=yes" or "|lk=on", it is rendered as "c.", with a wikilink to the wikt:circa article in Wiktionary and not an abbreviation element. lk=no can be used to avoid overlinking when this template is used repeatedly in the body of an article. For example:

• [[Dionysius Exiguus]] was born {{circa|470}}, lived in Rome from {{circa|lk=no|500}}, and died {{circa|lk=no|544}}.

  → Dionysius Exiguus was born c. 470, lived in Rome from c. 500, and died c. 544.

If the parameter "sortable=yes" is specified, the template generates invisible text that will cause the output to work in sortable tables, at the cost of causing problems for visually-impaired readers. Compare "Col 1" and "Col 2" in the following table:

Title	Col 1	Col 2
Foo	1066	1066
Bar	c. 1510	1510 c. 1510
Baz	1956	1956
Jaz	c. 410	0410 c. 410

"Col 1" uses {{Circa}} 1510, and does not sort correctly. "Col 2" uses {{Circa|1510|sortable=yes}}, and does sort correctly. This works because {{Circa|1510|sortable=yes}} inserts an invisible span element at the start of the cell: <span style="display:none;">1510</span>. Although it is not rendered, it is still seen by the sorting code and makes sorting work.

The downside of this approach is that the invisible text is still rendered by screen readers that are used by visually impaired readers, and by text browsers such as Lynx, so the table will become garbled for readers who are using assistive technology or text browsers.

Tracking categories

• Category:Pages using circa with unknown parameters (5)

See also

• {{Died-in}}
• {{Floruit}}
• {{Reign}}
• Tempore

TemplateData

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See the monthly parameter usage report for this template.

TemplateData for Circa

No description.

Template parameters

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
sortable	sortable	no description	Unknown	optional
year	1	no description	String	suggested
link?	lk	If 'yes' or 'on', links to 'circa' article. If 'no' or 'off', does not title 'circa'. Example no	String	optional
end year	2	no description	String	optional