MediaWiki is a free and open-source wiki software platform written in PHP that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
MediaWiki solves the problem of enabling large-scale collaborative content creation and editing. It provides a feature-rich, extensible platform that works both through on-wiki interfaces and via hundreds of third-party extensions. The software is designed to scale from small installations to massive deployments serving hundreds of millions of monthly users, while remaining simple enough to install on most hardware and software combinations.
Developers and organizations considering MediaWiki should know it is suitable for anyone needing a robust, multilingual wiki platform. The software is localized in over 350 languages and has a large community of third-party users and developers contributing extensions and customizations. It works well for both small and large sites, making it appropriate whether you are running a niche documentation wiki or a major collaborative encyclopedia. The project provides comprehensive documentation including installation guides, upgrade paths, local development setup instructions, and a technical manual to support adoption.
The project maintains active development with regular engagement across multiple channels. The team operates a structured contribution process with a dedicated bug tracker and clear guidelines for reporting issues and submitting improvements. Development coordination happens through documented communication channels and a formal contribution workflow. The project sustains a large ecosystem of third-party extensions, indicating ongoing investment in extensibility and plugin architecture maintenance.
