Template:SHORTDESC
Usage change
 | Please use {{SHORTDESC:description}} rather than {{SHORTDESC|description}}, with a colon (":"), not a pipe symbol ("|"). This uses the magic word directly instead of using the template to call the magic word. |
{{SHORTDESC}} is not actually a template, but instead is a magic word, meaning it is a feature of the MediaWiki software. When used, it sets the page's short description.
The purpose of the template is to ensure that if someone uses this magic word with a piped parameter, the template code will be invoked and it will not cause an error on the page. Parameter 1 will be used as the : parameter and other parameters will be discarded. This way, if someone mistakenly enters {{SHORTDESC|American actor}}, the template will change it to the correct {{SHORTDESC:American actor}}.
When a user mistakenly includes a pipe in a {{SHORTDESC}} call, the template code will add the page to the hidden category Category:Pages which use a template in place of a magic word. Pages in this category should be fixed by willing editors.