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Update empty list UI for all items and custom list
Closed, ResolvedPublic2 Estimated Story Points

Description

Background

The empty state is slightly different, so this ticket covers updating the copy and images for All Items view and custom list view if either or both is empty

Step 1 is get updated SVGs from Sneha

Don't worry about the mobile collections view yet as this page will likely not exist when this ticket is picked up

User story

As a logged in Wikipedia user, I can navigate to my reading list before I have saved anything or created any custom collections and see the appropriate empty state UI that informs me that I have no items/collections yet. From here, I am able to create empty custom collections even before adding any articles to them.

Design requirements

List (9).png (384×699 px, 46 KB)
List (8).png (384×699 px, 48 KB)

Figma

Technical notes

When debugging in web without help of the apps, to add a custom list put this into your browser console

new mw.Api().postWithToken( 'csrf', {
    action: 'readinglists',
    command: 'create',
    name: 'My custom list',
    description: '',
    format: 'json'
} ).then( ( data ) => {
    const id = data.create.id;
    location.href = mw.util.getUrl(
        'Special:ReadingLists/' + mw.config.get( 'wgUserName' ) + '/' + id
    );
} );

This fetches the CRSF token, tied to your logged in session, in your local machine's wiki and fires the create call.


Requirements

Optimized SVG

Acceptance criteria

  • Receive SVGs from @Sneha
  • Empty state has been updated when all items is empty
  • Empty state has been updated when custom list is empty
  • Confirm with Sneha/Steph whether all items view should be feature flagged or not

QA strategy

  • Risky change? Low risk as I believe this is not cached and managed via JS/CSS
  • QA by: QS, PM, and/or Design
  • QA in: Patchdemo, beta, and/or prod
  • Test steps: Add if needed.

Rollback plan

Revert - should be a fast change due to all JS/CSS, but should also not be high severity most likely

Event Timeline

There are a very large number of changes, so older changes are hidden. Show Older Changes
SToyofuku-WMF renamed this task from [Draft] Update empty list UI for all items and custom list to Update empty list UI for all items and custom list.Jul 14 2026, 3:09 PM
SToyofuku-WMF triaged this task as High priority.
SToyofuku-WMF updated the task description. (Show Details)

From sprint planning: @Sneha says no worries if all items empty state is not feature flagged and goes out in general

SToyofuku-WMF set the point value for this task to 2.Jul 14 2026, 5:45 PM

I updated the screens here to fix some inconsistent copy and also added the svg to description

Volker_E updated the task description. (Show Details)
Volker_E removed a project: Epic.

optimized SVG

Volker_E updated the task description. (Show Details)

@Sneha Even though the headings are bold, I'd suggest adding a . at the end for better inclusive experience. Assistive technology exposes this out in a more understandable way. edit 2026-07-28 updated below

Change #1318272 had a related patch set uploaded (by VolkerE; author: VolkerE):

[mediawiki/extensions/ReadingLists@master] custom lists: Provide empty state for empty collections

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1318272

@Volker_E the title in the empty state copy is not a complete sentence and so a "dot" will feel out of place. I would assume that the screen readers would recognize them as a heading if we have used a heading label.

@Sneha This is actually better, after revisiting typography and readout by screenreaders, only on headings when the paragraphs are featuring punctuation periods. Updated the patch by this small amendment.

One more question though. Here we are using "articles" again, while we used "pages" for everything else…

@Volker_E Thanks. Re: copy I tried to unify to articles everywhere because that's the terminology used on Wikipedia navigation. It might help users know where to find the save button.

Change #1318272 merged by jenkins-bot:

[mediawiki/extensions/ReadingLists@master] custom lists: Provide empty state for empty collections

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1318272

Tested on https://en.wikipedia.beta.wmcloud.org/wiki/Special:ReadingLists.

What I expected to see:

Screenshot 2026-08-03 at 5.16.01 PM.png (624×584 px, 56 KB)

What I saw:

Screenshot 2026-08-03 at 5.12.48 PM.png (942×746 px, 51 KB)

Can you let me know if I'm looking in the wrong place, or if the design/copy changed and I wasn't aware @SToyofuku-WMF @Sneha ?

Test wiki created on Patch demo by Etonkovidova (WMF) using patch(es) linked to this task:
https://5dac6011fc.catalyst.wmcloud.org/w/

Tested on https://en.wikipedia.beta.wmcloud.org/wiki/Special:ReadingLists.

What I expected to see:

Screenshot 2026-08-03 at 5.16.01 PM.png (624×584 px, 56 KB)

What I saw:

Screenshot 2026-08-03 at 5.12.48 PM.png (942×746 px, 51 KB)

Can you let me know if I'm looking in the wrong place, or if the design/copy changed and I wasn't aware @SToyofuku-WMF @Sneha ?

I got the same result as @ldelench_wmf. Patchdemo for https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/c/mediawiki/extensions/ReadingLists/+/1318272 doesn't reflect the changes.

Hi @Volker_E and @Sneha, can you please confirm if the design in the task description for the empty state on the "all items" view is correct? In Volker's patch, there are 2 different images, one for the "all items" empty view and one for the empty collection view. In the designs, both views use the same image. Can you please let us know which is correct?

@AnneT The designs in the task are correct. Also here is the link to Figma

unassigning while this is blocked on T434027

Thanks @Sneha and sorry for not checking this during code review! Moving back to in progress so we can add a new patch to use the same image for the empty state everywhere

Thanks @AnneT just to note that empty state image and copy for the collection list view is different but I guess that's not part of this ticket.

assigning this one back to you, let us know if anything seems unclear @Volker_E. thanks!

Test wiki on Patch demo by Etonkovidova (WMF) using patch(es) linked to this task was deleted:

https://5dac6011fc.catalyst.wmcloud.org/w/

Change #1326668 had a related patch set uploaded (by VolkerE; author: VolkerE):

[mediawiki/extensions/ReadingLists@master] Align normal ReadingList empty state with new custom list empty state

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1326668

Hey @Sneha could we update the description with latest design. I think we've pivoted to one of the designs in the comments but that was causing me confusion during code review. Thanks in advance,

@Jdlrobson-WMF which design change are you referring to? This ticket is for updating the copy and image which has not changed. If you are referring to navigation then there is a different ticket for it.

@Jdlrobson-WMF which design change are you referring to? This ticket is for updating the copy and image which has not changed. If you are referring to navigation then there is a different ticket for it.

I've since clarified on the patch with Volker which wasn't matching the description here. Will reach out further if I need anything from you!

Change #1326668 merged by jenkins-bot:

[mediawiki/extensions/ReadingLists@master] Align normal ReadingList empty state with new custom list empty state

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1326668

This looks good and works as expected with and without custom lists:

Screenshot 2026-08-20 at 7.44.20 AM.png (1,249×591 px, 58 KB)

Screenshot 2026-08-20 at 7.44.35 AM.png (1,249×591 px, 54 KB)

Screenshot 2026-08-20 at 7.47.19 AM.png (1,249×591 px, 51 KB)

Please resolve if all looks good!

Please resolve if all looks good! (either @Sneha or @HFan-WMF )

I am not able to get beta cluster to load right now but resolving based on katie's screenshots! thanks both!