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When applying ParserFunctions to template parameters, a pipe symbol ("|") may be used to provide the empty string as default value, in order to indicate how to handle things if a parameter is or is not passed in.

• {{{1}}}

Sample A

{{#if: {{{1}}} | Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined and non-null/non-empty. | Parameter 1 is null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.}}

Result

Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined and non-null/non-empty.

• {{{1|}}}

Sample B

{{#if: {{{1|}}} | Parameter 1 is defined and non-null/non-empty. | Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined but null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.}}

Result

Parameter 1 is not defined, or is defined but null. It contains only empty string(s) or breaking space(s) etc.

Comparison

The second usage ({{{1|}}}, sample B) with present empty default is often the desired way to handle situations where a parameter exists, but is comprised only of empty space.

One way to test whether a parameter was specified in a template call is thus: {{#ifeq:{{{v|}}}|{{{v|-}}}| v was specified (and may be empty) | v was not specified }}

In rare cases, a template behaves differently when a parameter is unspecified compared to when it is specified but empty. When this template is used by a wrapper template (which uses the same set of named parameters), one way to ensure undefined parameters remain undefined is as follows (the technique also works with numbered parameters):

<!-- wrapper template code -->
{{wrapped_template|
normal_parameter={{{normal_parameter|}}}|
sensitive_parameter{{#if:{{{sensitive_parameter|}}}||NULL}}={{{sensitive_parameter}}}|
...
}}

Note that the wrapped_template receives a specified but empty normal_parameter in two cases: when normal_parameter is specified and empty, and when normal_parameter is unspecified (because the default empty value is then specified by the wrapper template).

By contrast, the wrapped_template receives a specified sensitive_parameter only when it is indeed specified, because the #if changes the wrapped_template parameter name to « sensitive_parameterNULL » when sensitive_parameter is undefined. Note also that wrapped_template receives a specified and empty sensitive_parameter only when the wrapper template receives a specified and empty sensitive_parameter. Of course, one must make sure the suffixed wrapped_template parameter name is meaningless to the wrapped_template for this to work properly.

See also

• Help:Template

• This page was last modified on 20 December 2011, at 13:54.
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