# guildwiki
**Wikidata**: [Q106166572](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106166572)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/guildwiki

## Summary
GuildWiki is a website currently located at `https://guildwars.fandom.com`. It is recognized as a set of related web pages served from a single web domain and is classified structurally as a "website." Historically, it has operated under several domains, including `guildwiki.org` and `guildwars.wikia.com`, and maintains a specific interwiki prefix for linking purposes.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Website
- **Current URL**: `https://guildwars.fandom.com` (active since 2020)
- **Former URLs**:
    - `http://www.guildwiki.org` (active Aug 29, 2005 – Aug 6, 2009)
    - `http://gw.gamewikis.org` (active Jun 9, 2006 – Aug 6, 2009)
    - `http://guildwars.wikia.com` (active Aug 6, 2009 – Nov 23, 2020)
- **Interwiki Prefix**: `guildwiki`
- **Interwiki Timeline**:
    - Mapped to `guildwiki.org` starting Aug 29, 2005.
    - Mapped to `gamewikis.org` starting Jun 9, 2006.
    - Mapped to `guildwars.wikia.com` starting Aug 6, 2009.
    - Mapped to `guildwars.fandom.com` starting Nov 23, 2020.
- **Class**: Website (defined as a set of related web pages served from a single web domain).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the current web address for GuildWiki?
A: The current preferred URL for GuildWiki is `https://guildwars.fandom.com`, which became the active domain in 2020.

### Q: Did GuildWiki always use Fandom (Wikia) for hosting?
A: No. Prior to moving to Wikia in 2009, GuildWiki was hosted on `guildwiki.org` (starting in 2005) and briefly on `gamewikis.org` (starting in 2006).

### Q: What is the "guildwiki" interwiki prefix used for?
A: The prefix `guildwiki` is used to create direct links to the wiki from other platforms, such as Wikipedia. It has been updated over time to point to the then-current domain (e.g., from `guildwiki.org` to `guildwars.fandom.com`).

## Why It Matters
GuildWiki represents a significant case study in the migration and preservation of community knowledge bases. Its history tracks the evolution of specialized gaming wikis from independent, self-hosted domains (2005–2009) to larger wiki farms like Wikia and eventually Fandom. The existence of a formal interwiki prefix indicates that it was considered a valuable and authoritative external resource by the Wikimedia community, meriting easy linking capabilities. The site serves as a repository for "Guild Wars" related data, maintaining continuity for users despite changes in underlying domain infrastructure.

## Notable For
- **Domain Longevity**: Operational across four distinct domains/paths from 2005 through at least mid-2024.
- **Interwiki Integration**: One of the few external gaming wikis to maintain a dedicated, continuously updated interwiki prefix on Wikimedia projects for nearly two decades.
- **Migration History**: Illustrates the specific timeline of the Wikia-to-Fandom rebranding (completed by late 2020) for gaming properties.

## Body
### Classification and Nature
GuildWiki is formally defined as an **instance of a website**. Its fundamental nature is described as a "set of related web pages served from a single web domain." The inception of the general concept of a "website" is noted as 1990.

### Domain History
The entry tracks the technical URLs associated with the "guildwiki" entity over time:
- **2005–2009 (Independent Era)**: The entity was first mapped in interwiki tables on August 29, 2005, pointing to `http://www.guildwiki.org`. On June 9, 2006, a parallel mapping was added for `http://gw.gamewikis.org`. Both mappings ended on August 6, 2009.
- **2009–2020 (Wikia Era)**: On August 6, 2009, the interwiki mapping was updated to `http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/$1`. This mapping remained active for over 11 years.
- **2020–Present (Fandom Era)**: The preferred URL was updated to `https://guildwars.fandom.com` in 2020. The interwiki mapping was officially updated to `https://guildwars.fandom.com/wiki/$1` on November 23, 2020. This current mapping is scheduled to be valid until at least June 30, 2024.

### Interwiki Technical Specifications
The **interwiki prefix** `guildwiki` allows for streamlined external linking. The data indicates precise start and end dates for these mappings, suggesting a closely managed integration with external linking databases (likely within the MediaWiki ecosystem).
- **Prefix**: `guildwiki`
- **Format**: `https://guildwars.fandom.com/wiki/$1` (where `$1` represents the article name).