Create a Modern SharePoint Wiki

Wiki’s are a great way to capture and share knowledge. While classic SharePoint had a Wiki capability (some might argue this point), there is no proper Wiki functionality in modern SharePoint, but it is possible to create a Wiki style site using modern pages.

In this example, I start with a SharePoint Communication site and create a structure using metadata, page templates and some manual navigation. SharePoint uses a flat structure, so we have to build a virtual structure (hierachy).

Demo Wiki

Start by creating a home page. This is the top level of the Wiki. Add quick links to provide access to the next level of content.

Wiki home page – text webpart + Quick links in a vertical section

Next create a Page Template for second level pages. In my example, Library, Teams, Technology, Finance, and Warehouse.

The second level pages could use static links e.g. Quick Links or other types of buttons. In this example I have used a Highlighted Content Webpart, filtered by Pages with a Page Property for “Finance” pages.

Third level pages use a slightly different template. There could be many pages, so using page templates saves a lot of effort and helps ensure the Wiki is consistent from a navigation and layout perspective.

To keep this really simple, I have created a breadcrumb (Company Wiki > Finance) using a text webpart. Each node in the breadcrumb is just hyperlinked text. The trick is to save the page as a template with the breadcrumb, so it doesn’t need to be manually created for each page. (Learn more about page templates)

Now that you have you basic structure, additional pages can be created using a page template. Edit the page and then choose Save as a Template.

Or just by copying the page from the New button (from any published page).

This is a very simple Wiki example. A more advanced version could be created using multiple Communication sites connected to a Hub and with Modern Search webparts to create dynamic content. It is also possible to add content approval workflows and to use metadata to create more dynamic content.

Because the Wiki has been created with SharePoint, you can use SharePoint webparts to create rich pages including video, images, file viewers, Lists etc.

The point of this Wiki is to keep it simple.