Description of the image or other media file. Content of the description should provide brief (if possible) but complete information about the image. It should:
Identify subject like notable people (use {{Depicted person}} template), animals, objects, cars, weapons, etc.
Identify location (if relevant) by text, like: city, country, building name or address, etc.
Note that location coordinates are not directly included as separate field in the "Information" template. Template {{Location}} (for camera location and heading, preferred) and/or {{Object location}} (for the depicted objects) should be used. Template {{Location}} should be placed directly above or below {{Information}}. Note: some users prefer to include location template(s) into the „Description“ field of {{Information}} template in order to group all location information together – this solution is fully serviceable but objections are in point of graphic design not ideal adjusted for such use. See this and this discussion.
In general description should provide information to support all subject categories of the file.
In case of group pictures or other images where image details might warrant separate description please use image annotations, but remember that those annotations might not be visible on Wikipedias which did not adopt the gadget to display them.
Description format should use:
Multilingual templates like {{En}} or {{De}} to specify the language of the description.
Wikilinks to Wikipedia articles. This helps with disambiguation and allows shorter format.
Date of creation, when the original source (such as photograph of 3-D scene, digital file, or original 2-D artwork) was created. Possible formats:
ISO 8601 is the preferred format, e.g. "2006-01-15" for "15 January 2006". Dates following this format are processed by {{ISOdate}}. The following formats are recognized:
YYYY
YYYY-MM
YYYY-MM-DD
YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm
YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss
Use {{Other date}} for less precise dates, like: circa..., after..., spring of..., between..., etc.
It is possible to use {{Date}} template. For example "date=2008-06-09" is equivalent to "date={{date|2008|6|9}}", but ISO 8601 format is preferred.
In many cases multiple dates and/or extra explanations are required:
For photos, we have special templates {{Taken on}} and {{Taken in}} to indicate when the photograph was taken and to distinguish it from the creation date of the depicted work or from the creation date of the derivative work (modified or cropped photo, collage etc.). Those templates use ISO format (e. g. {{Taken on|YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm}} or {{Taken in|YYYY}}).
If the creation date of a file moved from other project is unknown, {{Original upload date}} can be used — this template should be also used (in addition) if the first publication date (outside Commons) is relevant in relation to copyright. This template also uses the ISO format.
If the creation date of a file (not moved from other project) is unknown, {{Upload date}} can be used. This template also uses the ISO format.
If the file is a modified or derivative work, both date of the original (source) work and date of the last version (derivative work) should be stated with appropriate comments or notes.
If the date has to be furnished with some specifying text, not covered by one of the above templates, (e. g. "date of creation", "date of the first publication", "date of modification" etc.) then dates have to be specified using {{ISOdate}} (i.e. {{ISOdate|2009-08-18}} (date of creation))) or {{Date}} (i.e. {{date|2008|6|9}} (date of modification)) templates.
If the file is not a simple copy of the depicted work, the date or year of the creation of the depicted work should be stated rather in the "description" field.
empty
required
Source
Source
Information about where the file is from (own files should be tagged with {{Own}}); if the file is based on other files then the original files should be also uploaded (if possible) and referenced. Possible content:
Book reference (using {{Scan}} and {{Cite book}} templates) for images scanned from a book. If image was scanned by the uploader that should be mentioned too.
Original author of the file; where appropriate, use {{Creator:Name Surname}}. If the work is derived from or depicts works by someone other than the author, the author of the original work should also be mentioned. For example, for a photograph of a sculpture, make a mention of both the sculptor and the photographer. This field should not be used to specify the scanner, finder or uploader of the image; they are not the author.
License and other usage limitations and warnings. Due to the size of many license templates they are often placed in a separate section below {{Information}} template. In such a case please leave this field blank.
The license is related primarily to the file itself. If need to state a license of the depicted (or other source) work, include it additionally with appropriate comment. If needed, use relevant FoP templates. You can use {{Artwork}} instead of {{Information}} for simple copies of artworks.
TemplateData is a way to store information about template parameters (the description of those and of the whole template) for both humans and machines. It is used by VisualEditor and possibly other tools like Upload Wizard.
Existing template documentation
At Wikimedia Commons, it is recommended to use {{TemplateBox}} with either useTemplateData=1 or useTemplateData=only on the /doc subpage and transcluding it with {{Documentation}} into the template. <nowiki>-tags can be wrapped around the arguments, if required, to avoid templates being expanded.
Newly created template documentation and imports
Another option, especially for imported templates, or for users with JSON experience, is placing raw <templatedata>-tags into the Wikitext of the template, as described in various Wikipediae.
This template prefers block formatting of parameters.
Parameter
Description
Type
Status
Author
Author
Original author of the file; where appropriate, use {{Creator:Name Surname}}. If the work is derived from or depicts works by someone other than the author, the author of the original work should also be mentioned. For example, for a photograph of a sculpture, make a mention of both the sculptor and the photographer. This field should not be used to specify the scanner, finder or uploader of the image; they are not the author.
Links to files with very similar content or derived files; use thumbnails or Gallery tags.
String
optional
Permission
Permission
License and other usage limitations and warnings. Due to the size of many license templates they are often placed in a separate section below {{information}} template. In such a case please leave this field blank.
String
optional
Source
Source
Information about where the file is from (own files should be tagged with {{own}}); if the file is based on other files then the original files should be also uploaded (if possible) and referenced.
{{Information2|
|Description = general description
|Location = location information
|Date = date the image was made
|Source = where the image come from?
|Author = author or authors of the image
|Permission = Permission or license
|Other_versions = other versions of the image
}}
