Infobox PersonEdit
Infobox person is a metadata template used in encyclopedia articles to present at-a-glance biographical information about an individual. It is a compact box that appears at the top of most biographies, summarizing key facts such as birth date, occupation, nationality, and notable life events. The format is widely used across languages and kinds of biographies to enable quick scanning and automated data extraction. Infobox Infobox person Date of birth Occupation Nationality Notability
From a practical standpoint, the infobox is designed to be neutral, succinct, and verifiable. It helps maintain consistency across articles, enables readers to compare figures, and supports data-driven features like search and indexing. Editors aim for concise, evidence-based entries that rely on reliable sources; this keeps the focus on verifiable facts rather than editorializing in the template itself. While debates exist about what should be included, supporters argue that a standardized set of fields creates a dependable baseline of essential facts while leaving room for narrative in the main text. Neutral point of view Reliable sources Editorial standards
Purpose and scope
Quick access to core biographical facts: the infobox serves as a mini-reference that complements the full article body. Typical fields include name, birth date, birth place, death date (if applicable), occupation, and nationality. Date of birth Place of birth Date of death Occupation Nationality
Facilitation of comparison and data reuse: standardized fields make it easier to compile biographical data across many figures for readers, researchers, and automated systems. This supports data integrity and enables features like linked data and search filtering. Linked data Data integrity
Boundary between fact and narrative: the infobox emphasizes objective, verifiable information, while the main text is reserved for context, interpretation, and nuance. This separation helps readers discern what is known from what is interpreted. Notability Biographical narrative
Localization and accessibility: infobox fields are designed to work in multiple languages and cultural contexts, though translations can raise challenges about field labeling and conventions. Localization Multilingual Cultural conventions
Data fields and conventions
Core identifying information: name, date of birth, place of birth, and, where relevant, date of death and place of death. These elements anchor a biography in time and place. Name Date of birth Place of birth Date of death Place of death
Professional and public role: occupation, nationality, and notable positions or roles held (e.g., offices, titles, or leadership posts). These highlight the public function or career arc of the person. Occupation Nationality Notable positions
Notable works and affiliations: sections for notable works, awards, education, and major affiliations help identify why the person is of interest. Notable works Awards Education Affiliations
Personal and chronological context: fields such as spouse, children, and sometimes birth name or alias, depending on the standards of the encyclopedia and the subject’s public record. Spouse Children Birth name Alias
Optional and sensitive fields: some projects include demographic attributes like gender identity or ethnicity in certain contexts. The inclusion of such fields is debated, and many editors prefer to reflect these only when they are well-established in reliable sources and relevant to the biographical record. Gender identity Ethnicity Race (lowercase when discussing racial groups in prose)
Visual and metadata elements: the infobox often includes a portrait image, a brief caption, and occasionally a signature or website. Portrait Signature Official website
Controversies and debates
Standardization vs. narrative flexibility: supporters of a rigid template argue that consistency across biographies improves clarity and reduces subjective phrasing in the infobox itself. Critics contend that a one-size-fits-all set of fields can obscure important nuances for certain figures or regions. In practice, templates evolve to balance stability with adaptability. Template Editorial standards
Inclusion of demographic fields: some editors, citing relevance to public record, advocate for reflecting race, ethnicity, gender, or other demographic identifiers in the infobox. others argue these attributes are not essential to the core biographical record and can be misused or sensationalized. From a pragmatic standpoint, the decision often hinges on the subject’s public life and the reliability of sourcing. The debate centers on how much identity information belongs in a quick-reference box versus the main narrative. Ethnicity Gender identity Race
Privacy and public interest: there is ongoing tension between documenting a person’s life and protecting privacy, especially for private individuals or early-life details that gain relevance only after the main text. Proponents of transparency emphasize that widely reported facts with reliable sourcing belong in the infobox, while critics argue for restraint when information is not clearly documented. Privacy Public interest Sourcing
Data quality and updates: infobox data must be kept current as new information emerges, which can be challenging for living figures or contested claims. Proponents stress the value of timely updates for accuracy and public accountability; critics warn against overzealous edits that chase trends or unverified claims. Data quality Fact-checking Vandalism prevention
Implementation and practice
Editorial workflow: infobox content is typically populated by editors who cite reliable sources, with updates coordinated across editions or language versions. The template is designed to capture stable facts while allowing the body text to explore interpretation and nuance. Editorial workflow Citing sources Reliability of sources
Localization and cultural differences: different languages or regions may favor varying conventions for fields, labels, or order. Editors balance local practice with the overarching aim of cross-biographical consistency. Localization Style guides
Practical examples in biographies: the infobox for a well-known figure is often populated with standard fields such as birth date, education, career milestones, and affiliations, providing a snapshot long after the article’s main text is read. For instance, in discourse about political leadership, the flow of public offices, terms served, and major policy roles are captured succinctly, while the main article expands on context and impact. The infobox will reflect verifiable facts drawn from sources like official records and reputable biographies. For example, the sequence of political figures can be traced across entries, such as noting that the president after George W. Bush was Barack Obama.
Data reuse and linked information: the consistent structure of infoboxes enables downstream uses, including Linked data projects and cross-article comparisons, which help researchers analyze patterns in biographical data across time and place. Linked data Biography data