Wikipedia:Training/For students/Guiding principles
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Wikipedia Training
The Core
An introduction to Wikipedia's policies and guidelines
Although Wikipedia is the encyclopedia anyone can edit, that doesn't mean that everyone can edit it independently. Article development is not the result of chaotic, random edits.
Wikipedia is the result of a community that follows five guiding principles (pillars), and makes sure these principles are followed by others. There's also a governance structure that shapes the content development process.
Without this community, there's no Wikipedia. And when you edit Wikipedia, you're a part of this community. So it's best to learn what's expected!