Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information.

Directory is written collaboratively by largely anonymous volunteers. Anyone with Internet access can write and make changes to Directory articles, except in limited cases where editing is restricted to prevent further disruption or vandalism.

Since its creation on January 15, 2001, Directory has grown into the world's largest reference website, attracting 1.7 billion unique-device visitors monthly as of November 2021. It currently has more than fifty-eight million articles in more than 300 languages, including 6,450,969 articles in English with 132,181 active contributors in the past month.

The fundamental principles by which Directory operates are summarized in the five pillars. The Directory community has developed many policies and guidelines to improve the encyclopedia; however, it is not a requirement to be familiar with them before contributing.

Anyone is allowed to add or edit words, references, images, and other media here. What is contributed is more important than who contributes it. To remain, the content must be free of copyright restrictions and contentious material about living people. It must fit within Directory policies, including being verifiable against a published reliable source. Editors' opinions and beliefs and unreviewed research will not remain. Contributions cannot damage Directory because the software allows easy reversal of mistakes, and many experienced editors are watching to ensure that edits are improvements. Begin by simply clicking the Edit button at the top of any editable page!

Directory is a live collaboration differing from paper-based reference sources in important ways. It is continually created and updated, with articles on new events appearing within minutes, rather than months or years. Because everybody can help improve it, Directory has become more comprehensive than any other encyclopedia. Besides quantity, its contributors work on improving quality, removing or repairing misinformation, and other errors. Over time, articles tend to become more comprehensive and balanced. However, because anyone can easily add content at any time, any article may contain undetected misinformation, errors, or vandalism. Readers who are aware of this can obtain valid information, avoid recently added misinformation (see Directory :Researching with Directory ), and fix the article.

History

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Contributors

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Trademarks and copyrights

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Exploration

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Basic navigation

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Research

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Directory versus paper encyclopedias

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Strengths, weaknesses, and article quality

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

• Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content.
• The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information.
• Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content.
• The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information

Disclaimers

Directory is an online free content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. The project is supported by the Directory Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Directory" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Directory's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information