FamilySearch Wiki:Image File Names

FamilySearch Wiki image file names should be clear and descriptive, without being excessively long. While the image name doesn't matter much to the reader (they can reach the description page by simply clicking on the image), it matters for editors. It is helpful to other contributors and for maintenance of the encyclopedia if images have descriptive or at least readable file names. For example, "File:Skyline Frankfurt am Main.jpg" is more helpful than "File:14004096 200703230833355477800.jpg".

To avoid accidental overwriting of images or other media, very generic filenames should not be used when uploading. For example, a picture of an book cover should not be given the name "File:Cover.jpg", as sooner or later someone else will try to do the same thing and overwrite the old image. The new image will then appear wherever the old one was used – in this case, a section with reference to a book would then show the wrong book cover.

As a security measure, image file names must have exactly one dot in the name; other names will be rejected as invalid.

Good image names
Examples of good file names:


 * [[Image:Yes_check.png|15px]] "Chicago skyline.jpg"
 * [[Image:Yes_check.png|15px]] "FS Catalog search screen.jpg"
 * [[Image:Yes_check.png|15px]] "Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers Through the Cumberland Gap.jpg"
 * [[Image:Yes_check.png|15px]] "Map of Georgia highlighting DeKalb County.png"

Examples of bad file names:
 * [[Image:X mark.png|15px]] "Image01.png"
 * [[Image:X mark.png|15px]] "Joe.jpg"
 * [[Image:X mark.png|15px]] "DSC00001.JPG"
 * [[Image:X mark.png|15px]] "30996951316264l.jpg"