Editing Template:Authority control/doc (section)

== Description ==
{{details|Authority control|Wikipedia:Authority control}}
This template links Wikipedia articles to various library (and other) catalogue systems, for biographies and other topics.

This template draws its values from [[Wikidata]]. A pencil icon [[File:OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg|frameless|text-top|10px]] gives convenient access to the "Identifiers" section of the corresponding Wikidata item.

=== Empty instances ===
If there is no information in Wikidata for the specific subject, an empty instance of this template will be ''dormant'', meaning it will be invisible on the rendered page. Thus, using this template on a page with no authority information is harmless. An empty instance of this template stays dormant in an article, until values are added to Wikidata, when it will then display them.

=== Validation ===
The template attempts to validate digits for all values and shows an error if the check fails.
<!--Wherever possible, the template also generates a link to [[WorldCat Identities]], using VIAF or LCCN values, or manually via {{para|WORLDCATID}}.-->

=== Position ===
{{See also|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Layout#Standard appendices and footers{{!}}Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Layout}}
As a metadata template, the Authority control template should be placed on a new line, after the [[Wikipedia:External links|external links]] section and [[Wikipedia:Navigation templates|navigation templates]], immediately before the categories.