---
title: "Breaking: #97312 - Remove context sensitive help"
manual: "TYPO3 Core Changelog"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/changelog:breaking-97312"
source: "Changelog/12.0/Breaking-97312-RemoveContextSensitiveHelp.rst"
typo3-version: "12.0"
typo3-major: 12
type: "breaking"
issue: 97312
forge: "https://forge.typo3.org/issues/97312"
tags: ["Backend", "NotScanned", "ext:core"]
rendered: "2026-09-20T18:31:11+00:00"
---

# Breaking: #97312 - Remove context sensitive help {#breaking-97312}

See [forge#97312](https://forge.typo3.org/issues/97312)

## Description {#description}

The arguments for removing context sensitive help were:

-   The help was not really context sensitive, it only relied on tablename
    and fieldname, if a field was used for different purposes in different
    content types, the CSH always showed the same help
-   There was outdated information in CSH (e.g. Screenshots form TYPO3 4.x)
    and nobody is available to update the information
-   Some CSH descriptions explained the same content with different words
    which is confusing (e.g. tt_content - CType > Title: "Type" > CSH
    Tooltip: "Select the kind of Page Content this element represents.
    New options will appear when you save the record.")
-   Many CSH texts did not provide useful additional information
    (e.g. tt_content - header > Title: "Header" > CSH Tooltip:
    "Enter header text for the Content Element.")
-   The available online documentation [https://docs.typo3.org/](https://docs.typo3.org/) improved
    a lot and helps better than the CSH in most cases, as it is up to date
-   CSH was hidden for most users, as it was only available by clicking on
    a label (no hint that help was available without hovering the label by
    mouse, not available for keyboard users)
-   `description` is available for explanations when they are required.
    Adding relevant information as `description` will help everyone as it is
    visible.
-   The removal was already proposed in 2019 (see
    [https://decisions.typo3.org/t/drop-context-sensitive-help-in-core/511](https://decisions.typo3.org/t/drop-context-sensitive-help-in-core/511))
    and most arguments against removal can be solved using the `description`
    or by linking to the official documentation
-   Removal of CSH also removed a lot of outdated files (and results in
    smaller footprint of the TYPO3 Core package)

The route `help_cshmanual_popup` has been removed.

Help buttons `\Components\Buttons\Action\HelpButton` only return an
empty string and trigger a deprecation warning.

The CSH descriptions are not loaded any longer for tables.

All labels are adjusted to not contain `<abbr>` tags inside any longer.

The method `cshItem()` of
`\TYPO3\CMS\Backend\Utility\BackendUtility` always returns an empty
string and triggers a deprecation warning.

The TYPO3 Manual menu item has been removed and a link to the
TYPO3 Online Documentation has been added to the menu.

The backend display related TCA option
`$GLOBALS['TCA'][my_table]['interface']['always_description']`
is not evaluated anymore.

## Impact {#impact}

The context sensitive help is removed completely and only loading help
items for SelectCheckboxElements is still supported.

## Affected Installations {#affected-installations}

All installations that use CSH for own fields.

## Migration {#migration}

Important CSH texts need to be migrated to a TCA `description`, to
make the information available for all users.

An example for a TCA description is the `protected` column in the
`sys_redirect` TCA.

The TCA option `['interface']['always_description']` can be removed from
any TCA definition.