Convert BBCode to MediaWiki

Why Convert BBCode to MediaWiki?

Converting BBCode to MediaWiki markup is essential when migrating forum content to wiki-based platforms. Both formats serve user-generated content communities, but MediaWiki offers far richer structuring capabilities including section headings, tables, templates, categories, and internal linking. If your forum discussions contain valuable knowledge that deserves a more permanent, organized home, converting to MediaWiki format is the right approach.

BBCode and MediaWiki markup share a common purpose - formatting text without allowing raw HTML - but they differ significantly in capability and scope. BBCode focuses on basic text formatting with tags like [b], [i], and [url], while MediaWiki markup supports entire document structures with section hierarchies, tables of contents, cross-referencing, templates, and multimedia embedding. The conversion expands your content's potential from a flat forum post to a structured wiki article.

This conversion is particularly valuable for communities transitioning from traditional forums to wiki-based knowledge bases. Many gaming communities, open-source projects, and technical communities maintain both forums and wikis. Converting forum guides, tutorials, and FAQs from BBCode to MediaWiki format allows this content to be integrated into wiki sites where it can be collaboratively maintained and improved by the community.

Our converter maps BBCode tags to their MediaWiki equivalents with precision. Bold [b] tags become triple apostrophes, italic [i] tags become double apostrophes, [url] links become proper external or internal wiki links, [code] blocks become preformatted sections, [quote] blocks become indented content, and [list] items become bullet or numbered lists. The result is clean MediaWiki markup ready for any wiki platform.

Key Benefits of Converting BBCode to MediaWiki:

• Wikipedia Compatible: Output follows Wikipedia markup conventions for immediate use
• Section Structure: BBCode content gains proper heading hierarchy and organization
• Internal Linking: Convert forum references into proper wiki internal links
• Template Support: MediaWiki templates enable reusable content patterns
• Category System: Organize converted content into wiki categories
• Collaborative Editing: Wiki format enables community-driven content improvement
• Knowledge Preservation: Forum knowledge is preserved in a structured, searchable wiki

Practical Examples

Example 1: Forum Guide to Wiki Article

Input BBCode file (guide.bbcode):

[b]Beginner's Guide to Photography[/b]

[i]Written by ForumUser42[/i]

Photography is the art of capturing light. Here are the basics:

[b]Camera Settings[/b]
[list]
[*]Aperture controls depth of field
[*]Shutter speed controls motion blur
[*]ISO controls light sensitivity
[/list]

[b]Recommended Gear[/b]
[quote]Start with a basic DSLR or mirrorless camera. You don't need expensive equipment to take great photos.[/quote]

Visit [url=https://example.com/photography]our resources page[/url] for more tips.

Output MediaWiki file (guide.mediawiki):

'''Beginner's Guide to Photography'''

''Written by ForumUser42''

Photography is the art of capturing light. Here are the basics:

== Camera Settings ==
* Aperture controls depth of field
* Shutter speed controls motion blur
* ISO controls light sensitivity

== Recommended Gear ==
Start with a basic DSLR or mirrorless camera. You don't need expensive equipment to take great photos.

Visit [https://example.com/photography our resources page] for more tips.

[[Category:Photography]]
[[Category:Tutorials]]

Example 2: Forum FAQ to Wiki Knowledge Base

Input BBCode file (faq.bbcode):

[b]Server Administration FAQ[/b]

[b]How do I restart the server?[/b]
Use the following command:
[code]sudo systemctl restart nginx[/code]

[b]How do I check server logs?[/b]
[code]tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log[/code]

[b]What ports should I open?[/b]
[list]
[*]Port 80 - HTTP
[*]Port 443 - HTTPS
[*]Port 22 - SSH
[/list]

Output MediaWiki file (faq.mediawiki):

== Server Administration FAQ ==

=== How do I restart the server? ===
Use the following command:
sudo systemctl restart nginx

=== How do I check server logs? ===
tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log

=== What ports should I open? ===
* Port 80 - HTTP
* Port 443 - HTTPS
* Port 22 - SSH

[[Category:Server Administration]]
[[Category:FAQ]]

Example 3: Forum Comparison Post to Wiki Table

Input BBCode file (comparison.bbcode):

[b]Programming Languages Comparison[/b]

[i]Last updated: March 2026[/i]

[b]Python[/b]
[list]
[*]Easy to learn
[*]Great for data science
[*]Dynamic typing
[/list]

[b]Rust[/b]
[list]
[*]Memory safety
[*]High performance
[*]Static typing
[/list]

[b]JavaScript[/b]
[list]
[*]Runs in browsers
[*]Full-stack capable
[*]Dynamic typing
[/list]

Output MediaWiki file (comparison.mediawiki):

== Programming Languages Comparison ==

''Last updated: March 2026''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Language !! Key Features !! Typing
|-
| '''Python''' || Easy to learn, great for data science || Dynamic
|-
| '''Rust''' || Memory safety, high performance || Static
|-
| '''JavaScript''' || Runs in browsers, full-stack capable || Dynamic
|}

[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Comparisons]]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is MediaWiki markup?

A: MediaWiki markup is the text-based formatting language used by Wikipedia and all MediaWiki-powered wiki platforms. It uses symbols like '''bold''', ''italic'', == headings ==, [[internal links]], and {{templates}} to structure and format content. It is the most widely used wiki markup language in the world, serving content to billions of Wikipedia readers.

Q: How does BBCode map to MediaWiki syntax?

A: BBCode tags are mapped to their MediaWiki equivalents: [b] becomes '''bold''', [i] becomes ''italic'', [url] becomes external links [https://url text], [img] becomes [[File:image]], [code] becomes <pre> or <code> blocks, [quote] becomes <blockquote>, and [list][*] items become * bullet points or # numbered lists. The conversion preserves content structure while adapting to wiki syntax conventions.

Q: Can I paste the output directly into Wikipedia?

A: Yes, the generated MediaWiki markup follows Wikipedia's formatting conventions and can be pasted directly into the wiki source editor. However, Wikipedia has strict content policies, so ensure your content meets their notability and sourcing guidelines. The markup syntax itself will be fully compatible with the Wikipedia editing interface.

Q: Are BBCode [quote] tags converted to wiki blockquotes?

A: Yes, BBCode [quote] tags are converted to MediaWiki blockquote elements. If the quote includes an attribution (like [quote="username"]), the converter preserves the attribution in the MediaWiki output. The rendered result displays as an indented, styled block on wiki pages, similar to how quotes appear on forum platforms.

Q: How are BBCode lists converted to MediaWiki format?

A: BBCode [list] with [*] items becomes MediaWiki unordered lists using * prefix for each item. Ordered lists [list=1] become # prefixed items. Nested lists are supported through additional * or # characters. MediaWiki list syntax is simpler than BBCode since it does not require explicit opening and closing tags around the list.

Q: Does the converter add categories to the output?

A: The converter focuses on translating the BBCode markup structure to MediaWiki syntax. Categories are a MediaWiki-specific feature that you can manually add after conversion. Simply append lines like [[Category:YourCategory]] at the bottom of the converted content to organize the article within your wiki's category system.

Q: Which wiki platforms support the output format?

A: The generated MediaWiki markup works on all platforms running MediaWiki software, including Wikipedia (all language editions), Fandom (formerly Wikia), Miraheze, corporate MediaWiki installations, and self-hosted wikis. Any site powered by MediaWiki will correctly render the converted content with proper formatting, links, and structure.

Q: What happens to BBCode [color] and [size] tags in MediaWiki?

A: BBCode [color=red] tags can be converted to MediaWiki's HTML-like syntax, which is supported by MediaWiki. Font size tags [size] are similarly handled using span elements with font-size styles. However, many wikis restrict or discourage inline styling for consistency, so you may want to review and adjust these elements after conversion.