petnamespace

Petnamespace is a feature in the Wikipedia online encyclopedia that allows users to edit pages in a non-public forum, commonly referred to as a "sandbox." This feature was introduced in 2005 as a way to provide users with a safe space to experiment and test their editing skills without affecting the live Wikipedia website.

Pages within petnamespaces are not publicly accessible and can only be viewed by the user who created them. The namespace is typically prefixed with a special character, such as `-describedby:` or `Petnamespacename:`, to distinguish it from regular Wikipedia pages.

The main purpose of petnamespaces is to provide a learning environment for new users, allowing them to practice editing without making changes to live articles. Experienced users can also use petnamespaces to test new ideas, conduct experiments, or develop prototypes without affecting the public view.

Petnamespaces are not limited to individual users; some Wikipedians share their petnamespaces with other users through various means, such as inviting them to edit or by providing a link to the sandbox. While petnamespaces are not visible to the general public, some editors may choose to share their work publicly, either by moving the content to a live article or by allowing others to view the petnamespace.

When creating a petnamespace, the user can choose to use a custom prefix or a predefined prefix. Some users prefer to use a custom prefix to distinguish their sandbox from others, while others use one of the predefined prefixes provided by MediaWiki, the software that powers Wikipedia.

Petnamespaces can be used by anyone with an account on the Wikipedia website, and they can be used for a variety of purposes, including testing, learning, and experimentation.