Test Wiki:Blocks and bans
 | This is an information page which exists to document existing practice. It is not policy, as it has not formally been approved by the community, and compliance is not mandatory. |
Blocks
Blocks are technical measures, and they are placed either to prevent disruption, or for testing. Blocks placed to prevent disruption are placed by one of two groups: Bureaucrats or Stewards. They are most often placed due to disruptive editing such as, but not limited to, vandalism or spamming. Blocks can be made for testing purposes by any Administrator, and are most often placed on an alternate account or another person. Blocks placed on another person for testing most often last up to two hours.
Bans
Bans are formal measures, which may have a block imposed to enforce them. Bans can be placed by any Steward, or by community consensus. Bans can either be partial, such as restricting someone from a certain namespace, or they can be sitewide, prohibiting all editing by a particular user. Bans may be implied (most often by the community declining an unblock request) or explicit. They may have a set duration or be indefinite.