Wikipedia:Vandalism types

On Wikipedia, vandalism in simple terms is defined as deliberate malicious editing. There are many different ways in which Wikipedia is vandalized. These include additions, removals, and modifications that cause intentional harm to the content of the encyclopedia.

This page lists different forms of vandalism that occur, sometimes frequently, sometimes seldom. It is not a complete list. Occasionally, new types of behavior that can be considered vandalism will occur.

The "what is" column lists those behaviors that surely are vandalism. The "what is not" column lists related behaviors that may be viewed as vandalism by some, but that is not considered to be vandalism. In some cases, those behaviors are normal and acceptable; in other cases, they are not, and they violate one or more other Wikipedia policies.

Some acts of vandalism may fit into multiple categories. For example, one who adds a spam link to a template is guilty of both spam and template vandalism.

When reverting or otherwise fighting vandalism, it is recommended but not required that the type of vandalism be cited. This will help make the term vandalism less ambiguous, track problems the article and all of Wikipedia are facing, and help reduce future vandalism. It can be useful in determining what actions should be taken, such as blocking, page protection, or system changes. A shortcut is provided for each category that is useful for labeling.