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{{NavWiki|help}}
[[File:Bg3wiki search gif.gif|thumb|right|Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.wiki]]
{{PageSeo
{{#seo:
| fulltitle = Searching for Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki
| image = bg3wiki_help.png
| image = bg3wiki_help.png
| description = A guide to help BG3 players search for relevant content on the Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki.
| description = A guide to help BG3 players search for relevant content on the Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki.
}}
}}
BG3wiki has a powerful built-in [[Special:Search|Search]] function that can easily find pages, images, categories, templates, and more.
If you've ever tried searching for BG3 info on Google, you've probably noticed that bg3.wiki pages often don't appear in the search results. This is due to the way Google handles Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which is outside the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that non-commercial websites like bg3.wiki have a difficult time with SEO.


[[File:multimedia_search.png|right|thumb|Use the Multimedia option to search for images]]
'''The point: This article describes a simple way to bypass Google and find relevant information on bg3.wiki.''' We'll keep working on the Google side of things. In the meantime, hopefully this workaround helps.


* By default, Search results will only include content pages.
== Search bg3.wiki Directly From Your Address Bar ==
* Use the '''Multimedia''' option to search for images.
* Use the '''Everything''' option for a quick-and-dirty way to look through all possible results for your search term.
* Use the '''Advanced''' option to filter your search to specific [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Namespaces namespaces], like Category or Template.
{{TOC|limit=3}}
 
== Identifying areas in need of help ==
* [[Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:UnderConstruction|Under Construction]]: Pages marked as under construction; check the page history and coordinate via the Discord server if a page is actively being worked on.
* [[:Category:Stubs|Stub pages]]: Incomplete pages, lacking key information.
* [[:Category:Priority pages|Priority pages]]: Stub pages considered a high priority for updating.
* [[:Category:Pages that need to be rewritten|Pages that need to be rewritten]]: Pages that do not follow BG3 Wiki's guidelines or pages that are missing key templates.
* [[BG3Wiki:Verification]]: Pages marked as having information that needs to be verified
* [[Special:WantedPages]]: A list of pages that are linked to by other pages, but have not yet been created themselves
* [[Special:AncientPages]]: Pages that have not been updated in a long time - check these for outdated information
* [[Special:LonelyPages]]: Pages that aren't linked to by any other pages - try to find other appropriate pages to add links to them
* [[Special:LongPages]]: Very long pages that ''might'' benefit from editing for brevity
* [[Special:ShortPages]]: Very short pages that ''might'' benefit from adding more information
 
See [[Special:SpecialPages]] for a full list of Special pages.
== Other ways of searching BG3Wiki ==
=== Using your address bar ===
Here are browser-specific instructions on how to define a custom search keyword, which you can type in your address bar to focus your search directly on bg3.wiki.
Here are browser-specific instructions on how to define a custom search keyword, which you can type in your address bar to focus your search directly on bg3.wiki.
[[File:Bg3wiki search gif.gif|thumb|right|Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.wiki]]


For example, if you enter the example values described in the instructions below, typing <code>bg3wiki spells</code> in your browser's address bar and pressing '''Enter''' will immediately perform a search for 'spells' on bg3.wiki. If your search term matches an existing article name, you'll be taken directly to that article (in this case, [[Spells]]). Otherwise, you'll be taken to a page of search results on bg3.wiki.
For example, if you enter the example values described in the instructions below, typing <code>bg3wiki spells</code> in your browser's address bar and pressing '''Enter''' will immediately perform a search for 'spells' on bg3.wiki. If your search term matches an existing article name, you'll be taken directly to that article (in this case, [[Spells]]). Otherwise, you'll be taken to a page of search results on bg3.wiki.
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Scroll to the section for your browser below.
Scroll to the section for your browser below.


=== Google chrome ===
=== {{color|#4285f4|G}}{{color|#ea4335|o}}{{color|#fbbc05|o}}{{color|#4285f4|g}}{{color|#34a853|l}}{{color|#ea4335|e}} Chrome ===
[[File:bg3wiki googlechrome search.png|right|thumb|(Step 3) Chrome's '''Add search engine''' box]]
[[File:bg3wiki googlechrome search.png|right|thumb|Chrome's '''Add search engine''' box]]
# In the top right corner of Chrome, click {{SmallIcon|browser more vertical.png}} '''Customize and control Google Chrome''', then navigate to '''Settings''' &gt; '''Search engine''' &gt; '''Manage search engines and site search'''.
See [https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95426 this Google support page] for instructions on how to add a custom search engine to Chrome. (Section: '''Add, edit, or remove site search shortcuts''')
# Under the '''Site search''' heading, click the '''Add''' button.
 
# Enter the following details in the '''Add search engine''' box.
When you've reached the '''Add search engine''' box, enter the following details.
#* '''Search engine:''' The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
* '''Search engine:''' The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
#** Ex: <code>BG3Wiki</code>
** Ex: <code>BG3Wiki</code>
#* '''Shortcut:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
* '''Shortcut:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
#** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
#* '''URL with %s in place of query:''' This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
* '''URL with %s in place of query:''' This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go</code><br />(if you want to immediately navigate to an existing article when your search term matches an existing BG3Wiki article name)
** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go</code><br />(if you want to immediately navigate to an existing article when your search term matches an existing BG3Wiki article name)
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&fulltext=1</code><br />(if you'd rather ''always'' see a list of search results instead of navigating directly to existing articles)
** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&fulltext=1</code><br />(if you'd rather ''always'' see a list of search results instead of navigating directly to existing articles)
# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.


Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki feats</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
Once you've added the search engine, type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki feats</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.


=== {{color|#1190f5|Microsoft Edge}} ===
=== {{color|#1190f5|Microsoft Edge}} ===
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# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.
# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.


Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki armour</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
Once you've added the search engine, type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki armour</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.


=== {{color|#ff831a|Mozilla Firefox}} ===
=== {{color|#ff831a|Mozilla Firefox}} ===
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# When finished, click '''Save''' to finish the process.
# When finished, click '''Save''' to finish the process.


Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your keyword&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki potions</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
Once you've added the search engine, type <code>&lt;your keyword&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki potions</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
 
Alternatively (and more simply), follow the official guide for how to add BG3.wiki as a search engine to Firefox's built-in search bar with just a few clicks: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-or-remove-search-engine-firefox#
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# When finished, click '''Save''' to finish the process.
# When finished, click '''Save''' to finish the process.


Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your keyword&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki companions</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
Once you've added the search engine, type <code>&lt;your keyword&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki companions</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


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# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.
# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.


Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki weapons</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
Once you've added the search engine, type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki weapons</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.


== Using an Alternative Search Engine ==
== Using an Alternative Search Engine ==
You might also want to try something other than Google Search. Endorsing any specific search engine is not really the point of this article, but other search engines have a better track record of showing relevant bg3.wiki articles for your search terms, instead of ads and content farms. Maybe try searching Google for 'alternatives to Google' if you're feeling adventurous? :)
You might also want to try something other than Google Search. Endorsing any specific search engine is not really the point of this article, but other search engines have a better track record of showing relevant bg3.wiki articles for your search terms, instead of ads and content farms. Maybe try searching Google for 'alternatives to Google' if you're feeling adventurous? :)
[[Category:Wiki Help]]
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