Manual:Dummy revision

A dummy revision (previously also known as null revision) is a special type of page revision that does not change the page's content. Dummy revisions cannot be created directly by users, they are created implicitly as a side effect of certain actions performed on a page, in order to show a log entry in the page history. In the database, the dummy revision is associated with the same rows in the content table as its parent.

The preferred way to create a dummy revision is PageUpdater::saveDummyRevision().

Dummy revisions are distinct from "null edits ", which do not create an entry in the page history.

Actions that create dummy revisions

  • Imports
  • Page moves
  • Page protection, unprotection, or changing protection level

Actions that do not create dummy revisions

These only generate log events, and do not create any revisions

  • Merges
  • Page deletions
  • Page restorations
  • Patrol events

See also