Wikibooks
| Wikibooks logo with text: WIKIBOOKS Open books for an open world | |
Screenshot
File:Wikibooks 2024.png Screenshot of wikibooks.org home page | |
Type of site | Textbooks wiki |
|---|---|
| Available in | Multilingual (Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/meta at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). active)[1] |
| Owner | Wikimedia Foundation |
| Created by | User Karl Wick and the Wikimedia Community |
| URL | wikibooks |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | July 10, 2003 |
| Current status | Active |
Wikibooks is a wiki-based Wikimedia project hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation for the creation of free content digital textbooks and annotated texts that anyone can edit.
Initially, the project was created solely in English in July 2003; a later expansion to include additional languages was started in July 2004.[2] As of April 2026, there are Wikibooks sites active for Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/meta at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). languages[1] comprising a total of Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). articles and Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). recently active editors.[3] At primary stages it was called Wikimedia Free Textbook Project and Wikimedia-Textbooks.
History
[edit | edit source]The wikibooks.org domain was registered on July 19, 2003.[4] It was launched to host and build free textbooks on subjects such as organic chemistry and physics, in response to a request by Wikipedia contributor Karl Wick.[5][6] Three major sub-projects, Wikijunior, Cookbook and Wikiversity, were created within Wikibooks before its official policy was later changed so that future incubator-type projects are started according to the Wikimedia Foundation's new project policy.[clarification needed]
In August 2006, Wikiversity became an independent Wikimedia Foundation project.[7]
Since 2008, Wikibooks has been included in BASE.[8]
In June 2016, Compete.com estimated that Wikibooks had 1,478,812 unique visitors.[9]
Wikijunior
[edit | edit source]Wikijunior is a subproject of Wikibooks that specializes in books for children. The project consists of both a magazine and a website, and is currently being developed in English, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic and Bangla. It is funded by a grant from the Beck Foundation.[citation needed]
Book content
[edit | edit source]While some books are original, others began as text copied over from other sources of free content textbooks found on the Internet. All of the site's content is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license (or a compatible license). This means that, as with its sister project, Wikipedia, contributions remain copyrighted to their creators, while the licensing ensures that it can be freely distributed and reused subject to certain conditions.
Wikibooks differs from Wikisource in that Wikisource collects exact copies and original translations of existing free content works, such as the original text of Shakespearean plays, while Wikibooks is dedicated either to original works, significantly altered versions of existing works, or annotations to original works.
Multilingual statistics
[edit | edit source]As of April 2026, there are Wikibooks sites for Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/meta at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). languages of which Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/meta at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). are active and Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/meta at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). are closed.[1] The active sites have Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). articles and the closed sites have Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). articles.[3] There are Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). registered users of which Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). are recently active.[3]
The top ten Wikibooks language projects by mainspace article count:[3]
| No. | Language | Wiki | Good | Total | Edits | Admins | Users | Active users | Files |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 2 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 3 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 4 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 5 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 6 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 7 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 8 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 9 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
| 10 | error: language code: <strongclass="error"><spanclass="scribunto-errormw-scribunto-error-e3857ca2">luaerrorinmodule:numberof/otheratline39:attempttoindexfield'data'(anilvalue). not recognized | [[:b:Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).:|Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/other at line 39: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value).]] | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). | Lua error in Module:NUMBEROF/data at line 5: attempt to index field 'data' (a nil value). |
For a complete list with totals, see Wikimedia Statistics.[10]
Reception
[edit | edit source]Meng-Fen et al suggested that while there isn't much social connection between contributors of Wikibooks, the contributors had no major issues coordinating to write books.[11]
See also
[edit | edit source]- CK-12 Foundation
- Digital library
- European Library
- Free High School Science Texts
- Global Text
- ibiblio
- LibreTexts
- LibriVox, an online digital library of free public domain audiobooks.
- Open Content Alliance
- Open textbook
- Project Gutenberg
- Universal library
- WikiToLearn
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Wikimedia's MediaWiki API:Sitematrix. Retrieved April 2026 from Data:Wikipedia statistics/meta.tab
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d Wikimedia's MediaWiki API:Siteinfo. Retrieved April 2026 from Data:Wikipedia statistics/data.tab
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]
- Lua error in Module:Official_website at line 94: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Wikipedia:List of Wikibooks's
- Wikibooks Language Editions: list of Wikibooks for various languages ordered by size.
- Wikibooks page on Meta-Wiki
- Wikibooks takes on textbook industry
- What is Wikibooks? (Wikibooks)
- Wikibooks (Wikiversity)