When you're editing, whether it's in VisualEditor or one of the multitude of wikitext editors, there are two ways to represent the edit: view the output, or view the wikitext underlying it. The terminology around these two functions is very confused and inconsistent. This is entirely natural: there are technological restrictions and differences between different modes even if they serve the same use case, and different aspects of the editing interfaces are owned by different groups. Still, we may be able to clarify the confusion here somewhat by making small, incremental changes.
The purpose of this task is to scope and discuss the larger issue, then file subtasks to make improvements. Once we've reached the extent of what can be done, this task can be closed.
Summary
The two functions, of reviewing the output and the wikitext underlying it, are different in the three major classes of editor that we offer on desktop in both output and terminology. Some parts are similar with small inconsistencies, whereas some parts are very inconsistent.
VisualEditor
In VisualEditor, there is a single button available to you, "Review your changes". When you click on it, you can use "Wikitext" mode to see a diff of the wikitext changes, or "Visual" mode to see a diff of the specific bits of the page that have been changed with annotations. Both modes are modal dialogues.
Options:
Wikitext:
Visual:
2017 Wikitext Editor
In 2017 Wikitext Editor, there are two buttons available to you, "Review your changes" and "Show preview". "Review your changes" functions the same as in VisualEditor, except only the "Wikitext" mode is available and "Visual" is greyed out. "Show preview" shows you a full render of the page, with no diffing or annotations.
Options:
Wikitext:
Visual:
Older editors
In the older editors, there are two functions available, "Show preview" and "Show changes". "Show preview" shows a full render of the page as it does in the 2017 Wikitext Editor, whereas "Show changes" shows the same diff as "Wikitext" mode does in the "Review your changes" in VisualEditor.
Options:
Wikitext:
Visual:
