You may use Twinkle to facilitate CfD nominations. To install Twinkle, go to Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-gadgets and check "Twinkle" in the "Browsing" section. Use the now-installed "XfD" (Start a deletion discussion) tab while viewing the page you want to nominate.
Twinkle only allows you to nominate a single category or stub template. For bundled nominations including multiple categories, see §MassCFD.
If a category is a red link, then it is already deleted (or was never created in the first place) and does not need to be nominated.
If a category is unpopulated, use {{db-catempty}} to request it be speedily deleted in 7 days. Note that some project categories may be empty as part of their typical process cycle.
Before nominating a project category (even if empty!), check Special:WhatLinksHere, to see if the category is (or has been) populated by a template, and if so (or even if the populating template has been deleted), note the template name(s) in the CfD nomination.
If the category is populated solely by a template, and you are proposing to delete both the category and template, then follow the instructions at Wikipedia:Templates for discussion. If the template is a userbox, follow the process at WP:MfD, instead.
Add one of the following templates at the beginning of the category page (not the talk page) of every category to be discussed. For nominations involving large numbers of categories, help adding these templates can be requested at Wikipedia talk:Categories for discussion.
Include "CfD", "CfM", "CfR", "CfS" or "CfL" in the edit summary, and do not mark the edit as minor. Preview before saving.
To add the template for previous nomination days, use the "full" version of the template by appending "full" to the template name, i.e. {{cfd full}}, {{cfm full}}, {{cfr full}}, {{cfs full}} and {{cfl full}}. Use the |day=, |month= and |year= parameters to make the banner link to the correct CfD page.
Consider adding {{subst:cfd notice|Category name|2026 October 9|CfD section name}}~~~~ to the talk page of the category's creator.
For details about these templates, see each template's documentation.
Follow the instructions (visible in edit mode) to copy and paste one of the templates below. When inserting category names into these template's parameters, except the text= parameter, omit the Category: prefix and do not use wikilinks, as the template takes care of this.
If nominating a single category:
For deleting, use {{subst:Cfd2|Obsoletecategory|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed deletion. ~~~~}}
For merging, use {{subst:Cfm2|Origincategory|Destinationcategory|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed merge. ~~~~}}
For merging to two categories, use {{subst:Cfm2|Origincategory|Destination category1|target2=Destination category2|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed merge. ~~~~}}
For renaming, use {{subst:Cfr2|Currentcategory|Proposedname|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed rename. ~~~~}}
For splitting, use {{subst:Cfs2|Currentcategory|Proposedcategory1|Proposedcategory2|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed split. ~~~~}}
For converting the category into a list, use {{subst:Cfc2|Currentcategory|Proposedarticle|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed conversion. ~~~~}}
For other options (containerization, etc.), use {{subst:Cfd2|Currentcategory|type=other type|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed conversion. ~~~~}}
For a bundled nomination, use one of the standard templates to build the "Cfd section name" for the first nominated category. After saving that, the second and subsequent nominations must be inserted manually, as follows:
==== Cfd section name ====
* 1stcategory
* 2ndcategory [Make clear whether you propose deletion, merging or renaming]
* Your reason for nominating the categories, and signature.
If a bundled nomination is too long, consider using {{hidden}} to hide some of the nominated categories.
In your reason, use links if mentioning articles or categories. To link to a category, use the colon trick by adding a colon (:) to the beginning of the link, e.g. [[:Category:Foo]].
Preview before saving to check that your nomination is formatted correctly, and remember to include your signature at the end of the nomination.
Follow the instructions (visible in edit mode) and paste the following text (remember to update the default parameters):
For deletion, use {{subst:sfd-t2|TemplateName|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed deletion. ~~~~}}
For renaming, use {{subst:sfr-t2|TemplateOldName|TemplateNewName|text=Your reason(s) for the proposed deletion. ~~~~}}
In your rationale, mention how many articles currently use the template to help other editors. When linking to a category in your rationale, always add a colon (:) to the beginning of the link, like [[:Category:Foo]]. This makes a category link that can be seen on the page, and avoids putting this page into the category you are nominating.
Preview before saving to check that your nomination is formatted correctly, and remember to include your signature at the end of the nomination.
In addition to the steps listed above, you may choose to invite participation by editors who are likely to be informed about a nominated category. All such efforts must comply with Wikipedia's guideline against biased canvassing. In addition, to help make your messages about the CfD discussion clear, avoid Wikipedia-specific abbreviations, link to relevant policies or guidelines, and link to the discussion itself.
Notifying related WikiProjects
WikiProjects consist of groups of editors who are interested in a particular subject. If a nominated category is within the scope of one or more WikiProjects, consider adding a brief, neutral note on their talk page(s) about the nomination. You may use {{subst:cfd notice|Category name|2026 October 9|CfD section name}}~~~~ or write a personalized message.
Notifying substantial contributors to the category
While not required, it is generally considered courteous to notify the good-faith creator and main contributors of the category that you are nominating for discussion. To find the creator and main contributors, check the category's page history or talk page. You may use {{Cfd notice}} to inform the category's creator and all other editors.
Notifying other interested editors
It may be helpful to invite other subject-matter experts by posting a message on the talk page of the most closely related article, such as Protein family for Category:Protein families. You may use {{Cfdnotice}} for this.
