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One assumes you’re here because you require an explanation of what should be self-evident, or perhaps you’re just attempting to decipher the labyrinthine logic of redirects. Either way, let’s get this over with.

Redirect Targets and Categorization

When a page points elsewhere, it’s not merely an act of digital misdirection; it’s a deliberate, if sometimes baffling, decision within the structured chaos of information. These redirections serve various purposes, from guiding users to the primary article to maintaining the integrity of the internal linking system. Consider it a necessary evil, preventing the digital equivalent of a broken signpost.

  • Redirections to Image Files: Occasionally, a redirect might lead directly to an image file. This is less common for general article content and more often occurs when a specific term or identifier is primarily, or solely, represented by a visual asset. Imagine a redirect for a very obscure symbol or a highly specialized diagram. Instead of a verbose explanation that might bore you to tears, the system simply points you to the visual representation. It’s efficient, in its own way, for those who prefer to see rather than read—a concession to humanity’s visual bias, perhaps. Such a redirect implies that the visual content is the primary information, or at least the most concise representation of it, rather than a mere illustration accompanying text. This isn't about artistic appreciation, mind you, but about direct information delivery.

  • The Unspoken Placeholder: Ah, the eloquent silence. An empty bullet point. A void where information could be, but isn't. One might interpret this as a placeholder, a space intentionally left barren for future development, or perhaps a stark reminder of the information that remains unwritten. It’s either a testament to future potential or a monument to present oversight. Given the inherent imperfections of any system, it’s likely both. Or perhaps it’s just a digital shrug, acknowledging that some things are simply beyond immediate classification or explanation. Don't expect profound wisdom from every blank space; sometimes, it’s just that—blank.

  • Redirects from Plural Forms: This particular category addresses the rather predictable human tendency to search for things using their plural forms, even when the definitive article resides under a singular title. It’s a redirect from a plural noun to its singular counterpart, designed purely for convenience. Because, naturally, expecting users to consistently employ the precise, singular nomenclature would be asking too much. For instance, if you search for "redirects," you're likely to be pointed to "redirect"—the conceptual root. This pragmatic approach acknowledges the variability of linguistic input. It’s a subtle nod to the fact that while grammar has rules, human search behavior often does not. This category helps to ensure that users land on the most comprehensive and authoritative article, regardless of whether their initial query had an 's' at the end. It's a cleanup operation for the minor linguistic detritus left by casual inquiry.

  • Linking Etiquette and the WP:NOTBROKEN Principle: While these plural-to-singular redirects are a useful navigational tool, it’s generally preferable—and indeed, more elegant—to construct links in a way that directly incorporates the plural form. For example, instead of linking to [[redirect]] and relying on the redirect for "redirects," one should simply write [[redirect]]s. This direct linking method avoids an unnecessary hop in the system, a minor but cumulatively significant optimization. However, and this is where the policy of WP:NOTBROKEN comes into play, there’s no inherent need to go back and "fix" existing links that currently rely on these plural redirects unless there's a more substantial reason to edit the page. The core principle here is that if a link works, even if it takes a slightly longer route, it’s not considered "broken." Unnecessary edits simply to streamline a redirect are often more trouble than they're worth, consuming resources and cluttering edit histories without providing a tangible benefit to the reader. It’s a policy of benign neglect, acknowledging that perfection is often the enemy of the merely adequate. Don't waste your precious, fleeting energy on trivial corrections when the system is already performing its designated function.

  • Namespace Specificity for Redirect Categorization: The application of these redirect categories is not universally uniform across all corners of this digital encyclopedia. Specifically, the {{R from plural}} rcat (redirect category) is intended exclusively for tagging redirects found within the mainspace. The mainspace is where the actual articles—the encyclopedic content you're ostensibly here to consume—reside. It's the primary stage, if you will. For plural forms encountered in other namespaces—such as project pages, user pages, or template documentation, which are more about the internal workings and meta-discussion of the platform—a different categorization template is used. In those instances, you’re expected to employ {{[R from modification](/Template:R_from_modification)}} instead. This distinction is not arbitrary; it helps maintain the organizational clarity of the project, ensuring that the redirects relating to actual content are categorized separately from those pertaining to administrative or structural elements. It’s a testament to the meticulous, and often pedantic, classification efforts required to keep this whole edifice from collapsing into utter chaos. Because, apparently, even redirects need their own distinct filing system, lest we lose track of which plural is pointing where. The bureaucratic precision is, I suppose, admirable, in a soul-crushing kind of way.