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A '''timestamp''' on Bharatpedia is an automatically generated date and time record appended to talk page messages, user edits, revision histories, and administrative log entries. Timestamps serve as an essential mechanism for tracking chronological discussions, managing edit disputes, and maintaining audit trails across the encyclopedia.
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== Overview and Standard Format ==

Timestamps ensure that all contributions and talk page interactions are transparent and traceable. On Bharatpedia, the standard display format for automated signatures and page histories follows the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Indian Standard Time (IST) conventions depending on user preference settings.

=== Default Discussion Format ===
When signing a message on talk pages, MediaWiki automatically appends a timestamp in the following layout:

<pre>
12:52, 8 September 2026 (UTC)
</pre>

This format contains:
* '''Time:''' 24-hour format (<code>HH:MM</code>)
* '''Date:''' Day of the month
* '''Month:''' Full month name
* '''Year:''' Four-digit calendar year
* '''Time Zone:''' Time zone identifier (default is <code>UTC</code>)

== Generating Timestamps in Discussions ==

Timestamps are generated using tildes (<code>~</code>) when posting on user talk pages, project noticeboards, or article discussion pages.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;"
! Code !! Output !! Common Use Case
|-
| <code><nowiki>~~~</nowiki></code> || Username link only (e.g., [[User:Example|Example]]) || Rarely used alone in discussions.
|-
| <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code> || '''Username link + Timestamp''' || '''Standard signature for all talk page posts.'''
|-
| <code><nowiki>~~~~~</nowiki></code> || '''Timestamp only''' (e.g., 12:52, 8 September 2026 (UTC)) || Used to date a message if you forgot to sign previously.
|}

=== Example Usage ===
Typing the following in an edit box:

<pre>
I support this article merge based on the sources provided. ~~~~
</pre>

Renders upon publishing as:

> I support this article merge based on the sources provided. [[User:Example|Example]] ([[User talk:Example|talk]]) 12:52, 8 September 2026 (UTC)

== Timestamps in MediaWiki System Features ==

Apart from talk page signatures, timestamps appear across several key MediaWiki system interfaces:

=== 1. Page Revision Histories ===
Every article has a revision history page accessible via the '''View history''' tab. Each revision entry begins with a timestamp showing exactly when an edit was saved, linked directly to the diff of that change.

=== 2. Recent Changes & Watchlists ===
The [[Special:RecentChanges|Recent Changes]] feed and user watchlists display real-time timestamps for newly created pages, page reversions, and article modifications.

=== 3. System Logs ===
Administrative actions including page protections, account creations, file uploads, and user blocks are recorded in [[Special:Log]] with strict microsecond-accurate timestamps.

== Magic Words and System Variables ==

Wikitext editors and template designers can display dynamic time information using MediaWiki [[Help:Magic words|magic words]].

=== Date and Time Variables ===
* <code><nowiki>{{CURRENTTIME}}</nowiki></code> – Displays current time in 24-hour format (e.g., <code>12:52</code>).
* <code><nowiki>{{CURRENTDAY}}</nowiki></code> – Displays current day of the month (e.g., <code>8</code>).
* <code><nowiki>{{CURRENTMONTHNAME}}</nowiki></code> – Displays current month name (e.g., <code>September</code>).
* <code><nowiki>{{CURRENTYEAR}}</nowiki></code> – Displays current year (e.g., <code>2026</code>).
* <code><nowiki>{{CURRENTTIMESTAMP}}</nowiki></code> – Displays pure numeric system timestamp format (<code>YYYYMMDDHHMMSS</code>, e.g., <code>20260908125253</code>).

=== Time Formatting with Parser Functions ===
If the <code>#time</code> parser function is enabled via the ParserFunctions extension, custom timestamps can be rendered using standard formatting strings:

<pre>
{{#time: Y-m-d H:i:s }}
</pre>

== Customizing Timezone Preferences ==

Users can change how timestamps are displayed to match their local timezone:

1. Navigate to '''[[Special:Preferences|Special:Preferences]]'''.
2. Click on the '''Appearance''' tab.
3. Scroll to the '''Time offset''' section.
4. Select your local timezone (e.g., `Asia/Kolkata` for IST, UTC+05:30) or choose "Use browser data".
5. Click '''Save'''.

''Note: Local timezone preferences affect page histories and recent changes feeds, but talk page signatures generated via <code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code> remain standardized for all readers.''

== Important Guidelines ==

* '''Do Not Alter Historic Timestamps:''' When editing or archiving talk pages, never alter or fake timestamps in existing messages. Timestamps are crucial for maintaining factual chronological records.
* '''Always Sign Posts:''' Unsigned messages create confusion regarding when a suggestion or consensus was formed. If an editor forgets to sign, other users may add a <code><nowiki>{{Unsigned}}</nowiki></code> template containing the timestamp from the page history.

== See Also ==
* [[Bharatpedia:Signatures|Guide to Signatures]]
* [[Help:Wikitext|Wikitext Reference Guide]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Recent changes patrol|Recent Changes Patrol]]
* [[Help:Editing|How to edit a page]]

[[Category:Help]]
[[Category:Bharatpedia documentation]]

Help:Timestamp - Revision history

Bharatwiki Socrates: Created page with " link= A '''timestamp''' on Bharatpedia is an automatically generated date and time record appended to talk page messages, user edits, revision histories, and administrative log entries. Timestamps serve as an essential mechanism for tracking chrono..."

Bharatwiki Socrates: Created page with "
link= A '''timestamp''' on Bharatpedia is an automatically generated date and time record appended to talk page messages, user edits, revision histories, and administrative log entries. Timestamps serve as an essential mechanism for tracking chrono..."