**Steps to replicate the issue** (include links if applicable):
Invoke the following MediaWiki API request [ [[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ApiSandbox#action=query&format=json&prop=imageinfo&titles=File%3AHarku%20m%C3%B5isa%20park.JPG&formatversion=2&iilimit=1 | API Sandbox]] ]
```
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/api.php
?action=query
&format=json
&prop=imageinfo
&titles=File%3AHarku%20m%C3%B5isa%20park.JPG
&formatversion=2
&iilimit=1
```
**What happens?**:
You will receive the following response
```
{
"continue": {
"iistart": "2013-06-05T14:45:37Z", // <-- ???
"continue": "||"
},
"query": {
"pages": [
{
"pageid": 26499141,
"ns": 6,
"title": "File:Harku mõisa park.JPG",
"imagerepository": "local",
"imageinfo": [
{
"timestamp": "2013-06-05T14:45:37Z",
"user": "Sumistaja"
}
]
}
]
}
}
```
Note how the `$.continue.iistart` is using the exactly same value as `$.query.pages.[0].imageinfo.[0].timestamp`.
If you feed the continuation parameters back to the request URL, you will basically receive //exactly the same// JSON response.
**What should have happened instead?**:
I expect `$.continue.iistart` to be something different that won't lead me to a dead continuation loop.
Actually, if I increase `iilimit` a bit, I will be able to guess why such weird continuation token gets returned. Invoke the following MediaWiki API request [ [[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ApiSandbox#action=query&format=json&prop=imageinfo&titles=File%3AHarku%20m%C3%B5isa%20park.JPG&formatversion=2&iilimit=10 | API Sandbox]] ]
```
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/api.php
?action=query
&format=json
&prop=imageinfo
&titles=File%3AHarku%20m%C3%B5isa%20park.JPG
&formatversion=2
&iilimit=10
```
I will receive the following response
```
{
"batchcomplete": true,
"query": {
"pages": [
{
"pageid": 26499141,
"ns": 6,
"title": "File:Harku mõisa park.JPG",
"imagerepository": "local",
"imageinfo": [
{
"timestamp": "2013-06-05T14:45:37Z",
"user": "Sumistaja"
},
{
"filemissing": true // <-- [A]
}
]
}
]
}
}
```
I'm not sure whether this is related, but it seems the `timestamp` of missing file "[A]" (indicated by `filemissing`) has been [[https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Release_notes/1.34#Action_API_changes_in_1.34 | removed since MW 1.34]].
While I understand the reason behind the removal of the `timestamp` property that hasn't been populated with a meaningful value, probably you can consider using something different for continuation parameter, so at least we can move on.
**Software version** (on `Special:Version` page; skip for WMF-hosted wikis like Wikipedia):
**Other information** (browser name/version, screenshots, etc.):
Related
* T67251
* T67264