Help:Template limits

Why limits exist

MediaWiki limits the work required to expand templates and parse a page. A page can approach those limits when it transcludes many templates, uses deeply nested calls, or expands large amounts of wikitext. A template can contribute to the limit even when its visible output is small. The exact counters and thresholds depend on the installed MediaWiki version and configuration.

Recognise a limit problem

A page may show a warning, omit later template output, or include a parser limit report in its generated source. These signs do not by themselves identify which template is responsible. Compare the affected page with a simpler version, inspect recent changes and template nesting, and test one change at a time. Do not remove useful citations or content merely to silence a warning.

Reduce unnecessary expansion

Avoid repeating expensive template calls where ordinary wikitext is clearer. Keep templates focused, avoid needless nesting, and do not pass large blocks through a template when direct markup will do. If a widely used template is involved, discuss and test changes before altering it. Report the page, warning text and relevant template calls to maintainers if the cause is unclear; do not assume a particular admin tool or right is available.