Attribution count
The Attribution count signal reflects the relevance of a specific Wikimedia source (e.g., a Wikipedia article) within a context of reuse. Depending on the platform, this flexible attribute may indicate how frequently a page has been cited or reused (e.g., "Popular source"), or highlight relative prominence based on user activity (e.g., “Top result” among the most viewed entries in a search scenario).
This attribute demonstrates the popularity of Wikimedia projects as knowledge providers in external contexts. Attribution counts can also spark user engagement, encouraging further exploration and helping drive traffic back to sources, where curiosity could turn into a meaningful contribution to the free knowledge ecosystem.
Implementation guidance
Minimum requirements
Present the attribution count signal using a neutral, descriptive label that expresses the popularity of the source being reused in your context. You might display specific counts (e.g., “123K views on {your platform}”) or use indicators that are relevant in the context of reuse (e.g., “Primary source,” “Top result”).
Be explicit about whether the metric is based on impressions, citations, or displays of the given resource in your context.
Define a relevant, recent time window for your measure (e.g., the last 30 days).
Best practices
- Conditionally display this signal to make sure that it has a positive impact on users' perception of relevance. You might define thresholds to suppress lower attribution count values that could mislead users regarding the validity of certain sources.
Reuse scenarios
The Attribution count signal can be applied across contexts to highlight how often a Wikimedia source is cited or displayed. We especially encourage the use of this signal in the following reuse scenarios:
Search
Recommended
Indicating how frequently a Wikimedia page is cited or displayed demonstrates its relevance within your search platform.
AI assistants
Recommended
Showing attribution frequency highlights the ongoing value and reuse of Wikimedia knowledge across generated responses.