What is Wikimedia Commons?

Wikimedia Commons is an online wiki-based repository that provides free-to-use images, sounds, videos, and other media files. It is a project operated by the Wikimedia Foundation and allows its media to be used across various Wikimedia projects in all languages. Registered volunteers manage and edit the millions of files stored within the repository.

What we know

• Wikimedia Commons is an online repository of free-use image, audio, and other media files. [1, 2]
• The repository contains over 148 million free-to-use media files as of October 2026. [2]
• Files from Wikimedia Commons can be used across all Wikimedia projects in all languages and downloaded for offsite use. [2]
• The platform is managed and editable by registered volunteers. [2]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureHow do Wikimedia projects use artificial intelligence?
• how it workedWhat media formats are stored in the repository?
• how we knowHow does Wikipedia utilize files from Commons?
• whoWho founded the Wikimedia Foundation projects?
• an unexpected connectionWhat are UNESCO World Heritage Tentative Lists?

Sources

• [1]Wikimedia Commons (Wikidata Q565) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Dietary Guidelines for Americans · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Artificial intelligence in Wikimedia projects · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Tentative List of World Heritage Sites · CC BY-SA 4.0