Wikipedia's Draft namespace serves as a crucial area for developing new articles before they are moved to the main article space. This system allows editors to refine their work and receive feedback, ensuring
that only well-prepared articles make it to the mainspace. Established in December 2013, the Draft namespace has become an integral part of Wikipedia's article creation process.
The Purpose of the Draft Namespace
The Draft namespace was created to provide a space where new articles can be developed and improved before being published in Wikipedia's main article space. This allows editors to work on their articles without the pressure of immediate public scrutiny. The draft process is particularly beneficial for new editors who may need time to understand Wikipedia's guidelines and standards. By using the Draft namespace, editors can receive feedback from more experienced Wikipedians, which can help improve the quality of the article.
Drafts are not indexed by most search engines, including Google, which means they are not easily discoverable by the general public. This lack of indexing provides a safe environment for editors to experiment and refine their articles without the risk of premature exposure. The Draft namespace is also a place where editors can collaborate, as anyone can edit a draft, providing a platform for collective improvement.
Creating and Editing Drafts
Creating a draft on Wikipedia is a straightforward process. Logged-in users can choose to create a draft in the Draft namespace, their userspace, or directly in the mainspace if they are autoconfirmed. Drafts are identified by the "Draft:" prefix in their title, and they come with an associated talk page for discussions. Editors with VisualEditor enabled can use it to edit drafts just as they would with mainspace articles.
To move a draft to the main article space, an editor must have an autoconfirmed account, which requires at least 10 edits and an account that is at least four days old. If there are technical barriers to moving a draft, such as protection issues, editors can seek assistance from the Wikipedia community.
The Review and Submission Process
Once a draft is ready, it can be submitted for review through the Articles for Creation (AfC) process. This involves adding a submission template to the draft, which signals to reviewers that the draft is ready for evaluation. Reviewers will then assess the draft against Wikipedia's guidelines and either accept it, decline it with feedback, or reject it if it is unlikely to meet Wikipedia's standards.
Drafts that have not been edited for six months may be deleted under the speedy deletion criterion G13. However, they can be restored upon request. This system ensures that only active and promising drafts are retained, encouraging editors to continue improving their work.
