External Linking Policy – Trusted Sources

We have been discussing policy for external links in WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org/ documentation for a while now. It has been decided that, considering the benefits for the users of the documentation, we should allow linking to trusted sources when these sources are explaining the matter in more detail and/or with high quality use case examples.

In order to avoid all possible misuses of the β€œtrusted sourceβ€? label, we need to clearly define what kind of sources can be considered as trusted. Of course, it is not possible to keep an eye on each linked source all the time and we don’t want to make this at cost of our members workload. This is why the accent is on trusted.

Ideally, we will have a list of domain names which would be automatically allowed on wordpress.org. All the other domains will be automatically removed. That should sort out the workload of Documentation team members.

Also, Documentation team can and will change the criteria if a need for such an action arises. Documentation team owes to no individual or company to list them as β€œtrusted sourceβ€?. This is initiative to help people who are using the documentation in their quest for the information and guidance.

Let the discussion start. If you have an idea what would be appropriate requirement for β€œtrusted sourceβ€? label, please let us know in comments below. Thank you.

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