Help:References

References and citations allow editors to cite sources for factual claims on wiki pages — specifications, release dates, pricing, technical details, and more. EveryCRT uses MediaWiki's built-in <ref> system.

When to use references

Use <ref> tags for inline citations that support specific claims in article prose. Prefer linking to archival or stable URLs (Archive.org, manufacturer support pages) over transient sources.

References are not a substitute for:

{{CRT link}} — for archival links to manufacturer pages, retailer listings, and database entries
Document pages (in the Document: namespace) — for manuals, brochures, and spec sheets

Each of these serves a distinct semantic role on the wiki.

Basic inline reference

Wrap your citation in <ref> tags at the point in the text where the claim appears:

The KV-27S42 has a 27" Trinitron tube.<ref>Sony KV-27S42 service manual, p. 3</ref>

This creates a numbered footnote (e.g., [1]) in the text. The full citation appears in the References section at the bottom of the page.

Named references

When the same source supports multiple claims, give it a name on first use, then reuse it with a self-closing tag:

The set draws 150W average.<ref name="spec-sheet">JVC AV-36D201 specification sheet,
https://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?modelId=MODELPAGE</ref>

It weighs 185 lbs.<ref name="spec-sheet" />

Both claims will share the same footnote number.

Syntax summary

Syntax	Meaning
`<ref name="foo">Content here</ref>`	Define a named reference (first occurrence — must contain content)
`<ref name="foo" />`	Reuse a previously defined reference (self-closing, no content)
`<ref>Content</ref>`	Anonymous reference (cannot be reused)

Common mistakes

Duplicate definitions: Using <ref name="foo">Content</ref> twice with different content — only the first definition is used; the second content is silently ignored.
Forward reference: Using <ref name="foo" /> before the named ref is defined — this causes a rendering error. The full definition must come first in page order.
Empty tags instead of self-closing: <ref name="foo"></ref> causes errors. Always use the self-closing /> form when reusing.
Missing references section: Forgetting to add <references /> causes a "missing references list" error at the bottom of the page.

Rendering the reference list

Every page that uses <ref> tags must include a References section:

== References ==
<references />

This renders all footnotes as a numbered list.

Page structure

On CRT model pages, the == References == section should appear after all article prose but before any semantic subobject templates ({{CRT input}}, {{CRT output}}, {{CRT link}}, {{CRT mod}}, {{CRT voltage range}}), which do not have section headers.

Example

{{CRT model
|brand=JVC
|model=AV-27D201
|screen_size_inches=27
...
}}

The AV-27D201 was part of JVC's D-Series line, introduced in
2001.<ref name="jvc-support">JVC Support — AV-27D201 Specifications,
https://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?modelId=MODELPAGEAVD201</ref>
It features component video inputs supporting 480i and
480p.<ref name="jvc-support" />

The set uses the HAS chassis.<ref>JVC AV-27D201 service manual (Archive.org),
https://archive.org/details/jvc-av-27d201-service-manual</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{CRT input
|signal=Composite (CVBS)
|connector=RCA (connector)
|count=2
|direction=Input
}}