Project:Infobox conventions
Style guide·shortcut PP:IB
PP:IB.What belongs in an infobox, and what does not.
An infobox summarises facts that are settled, short and comparable across articles of the same type. Every row is read as an assertion the wiki is making without qualification, which is why the most common infobox fault is including a figure that needs a caveat.
The test
A value belongs in an infobox if all three hold: it is a single value or a narrow range; it does not require a qualifying clause to be accurate; and the equivalent row exists on comparable articles. A value that is assay-dependent, jurisdiction-dependent or contested belongs in the body, next to its caveat.
Types in use
| Type | Used for | Characteristic rows |
|---|---|---|
| compound | Drugs and research chemicals | INN, class, targets, formula, molar mass, half-life, routes, approval status |
| concept | Physiology, mechanisms, ideas | Abbreviation, precursor, source, principal actions |
| method | Assays and procedures | What it measures, classification, range, compendial reference |
| organisation | Companies and institutions | Legal name, founded, headquarters, industry, products |
| service | Testing and review services | Founded, methods, reporting practice, scope |
| tool | Interactive reference pages | Inputs, outputs, formula, assumptions |
| list | Enumerative articles | Scope, inclusion criteria, count |
Formulae and identifiers
Molecular formulae are set with the subscript template so they render as chemistry rather than as text. CAS numbers are given only where genuinely verified; an unverified identifier is worse than a blank row. Do not include a registry identifier the editor has not checked.