Wikipedia:Interface administrators

This page documents an English Wikipedia procedural policy. It documents various processes by which the English Wikipedia operates.

Shortcuts WP:INTADMINWP:INTADMIN WP:IADMINWP:IADMIN

This page in a nutshell: Interface administrators are highly trusted users able to edit all JS/CSS/JSON pages, gadgets, and MediaWiki messages.

Interface administrators (interface-admins) are users who can edit all JavaScript (JS), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) pages in the MediaWiki and User namespaces.^[1] They are the only local user group with the ability to edit all JS/CSS pages.^[2] These pages are executed by the browser of wiki editors and readers as code, which can be used to change how content is styled, change the behavior of pages, or even create complex tools to help with editing.

There are currently 15 interface administrators (including two bots). If you need assistance from an interface administrator, you can make a request at the interface administrators' noticeboard or use {{edit interface-protected}}.

The ability to edit JS/CSS that is executed in other users' browsers is very powerful, and extremely dangerous in the hands of a malicious user; interface administrators should be users who are highly trusted, have at least a basic understanding of JS and CSS, are aware of the privacy expectations of Wikimedia wikis, and have a decent understanding of how to secure their accounts (such as choosing strong and unique passwords and avoiding malware infection).

The WMF Office requires all interface administrators to use two-factor authentication on their acccounts.^[3][4] Interface administrators that do not have two-factor authentication enabled, or who disable or remove it from their account security settings, will not be able to use their permissions until it is re-enabled and configured.^[5]

There is a similar global interface editors group, who may use their access subject to the global rights policy.

The interface administrator permissions may be granted only to users who are current administrators.^[6][7]

• Venue: Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard
• Process: The administrator makes a request, with a rationale, at the bureaucrats' noticeboard, to request interface administrator access. The request will remain open for 48 hours for first-time requests. Reinstatement requests, not under a cloud, will not have a waiting period. No notice at other noticeboards is required. Bureaucrats may inquire about why the administrator is requesting access at their discretion. All editors may discuss the applicant, but the final decision rests with the reviewing bureaucrat. Bureaucrats may not assign access to themselves.^[6]
• Duration of right: Permanent by default, can be temporary if requested.^[8]

The interface administrator permissions on an account should be removed by bureaucrats in the following circumstances:^[8]

1. Interface administrators who have made no edits or other logged actions for at least 2 months or who have made no edits using the permission for at least 12 months should have the user right removed.
2. Voluntary request by the interface administrator at the bureaucrats' noticeboard.
3. After consensus has been reached asserting that the permissions have been misused (e.g. at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard).
4. Upon the removal of the administrator toolset from an account, for any reason.
5. By request of the Arbitration Committee.

Any bot operator requesting access for their bot(s) must permanently possess the user right themselves.^[8] As with regular interface administrator accounts, bot accounts with this permission must have 2FA enabled and use a strong password.

There are two general kinds of pages in the MediaWiki namespace: Message pages and site configuration pages. Interface administrators can edit and delete these pages, and can modify user configuration pages that live in the user space of other editors. Administrators who are not interface administrators can instead edit and delete most message pages (but not all of them).

Administrators and oversighters who are not interface administrators can delete and revision delete (or suppress in the case of oversighters) JS or CSS pages that live in the user space of other editors, as well as view their deleted revisions. However, they cannot undelete or restore revisions of those pages. Both regular administrators and interface administrators can modify JSON pages in the MediaWiki namespace or within the user space of other editors.

• {{User wikipedia/Interface administrator}}, a userbox to indicate having interface administrator permission
• {{User interface admin since}}, a userbox to indicate having interface administrator permission with period of time
• {{Interface administrator topicon}} – a top icon template to indicate you have the Interface administrator user right – adds a category to page automatically

• How you can help keep Wikimedia sites Error-free on checking for JavaScript errors