This template provides the header for an individual reference desk page. It includes a description of the desk's scope, brief guidance on asking questions, and a button for starting a new question.

Usage

{{Reference desk header
| name = Computing
| scope = Computing, information technology, electronics, software, and hardware.
| archivedate = 14 October 2026
}}

Parameters

  • name – the name of the desk, as it should appear in the heading. Defaults to the page name.
  • scope – a one-line description of what the desk covers.
  • archivedate – optional date the desk was last archived.

Behaviour

The template renders only outside the template namespace. It transcludes {{Reference desk navigation}} at the top of the desk page.

The "Ask a new question" box uses the commenttitle input type, which opens a new section with the heading the editor supplies. That is the standard mechanism for reference desk questions.

See also