Wikipedia Gets A New Design Update In More Than A Decade. Here's Everything You Should Know

In a bid to make it easier to search and read on the desktop, Wikipedia has got a fresh new look, in a major desktop update in more than a decade.

The announcement was made by the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that operates Wikipedia. ( Image: Getty )

In a bid to make it easier to search and read on the desktop, Wikipedia has got a fresh new look, in a major desktop update in more than a decade. The interface facelift has been built in collaboration with Wikipedia volunteers globally and it intends to make the site more welcoming and easier to use for everyone.

The update started rolling out on January 18 on English Wikipedia and is already live on 94 per cent of the 318 active language versions of Wikipedia for all desktop users. Some of the notable changes that the design overhaul brings are a collapsible sidebar and the default font size that has been made larger, to reduce the strain on readers' eyes.

The announcement was made by the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that operates Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. The updated interface, which comes on the heels of English Wikipedia’s 22nd birthday (on January 15), prioritises usability and modernises the experience to make it easier for everyone to access, explore and share knowledge.

“The Wikipedia desktop update is one of the major improvements the Wikimedia Foundation is making to help people easily access the world’s knowledge, in support of our mission to make sure every person on the planet has free and equitable access to knowledge, regardless of where they live or where they are from,” Selena Deckelmann, Chief Product and Technology Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, said in a statement.

“The changes make it easier for people to find and learn from the work of our incredible volunteers. These features were created with feedback from readers and volunteers from all over the world, aiming to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse audience, while keeping the simple and straightforward feel that millions of people have come to trust over the last 22 years.”