liminfoLaTeX Reference
Free reference guide: LaTeX Reference
About LaTeX Reference
The LaTeX Reference is a searchable cheat sheet covering the essential commands and environments used in academic and scientific document typesetting. It is organized into eight categories — Structure, Math, Tables, Figures, Lists, References, Packages, and Settings — mirroring the workflow of writing a research paper or thesis from start to finish.
Researchers, graduate students, and academics use this reference when writing journal articles, conference papers, dissertations, and technical reports. The Math section covers everything from inline and display equations to fractions (\frac), roots (\sqrt), summation and integration symbols (\sum, \int), multi-line aligned equations (\begin{align}), and matrix notation. The Tables section addresses both basic tabular environments and professional-quality tables using the booktabs package with \toprule, \midrule, and \bottomrule.
The Figures section includes \includegraphics with width options, floating figure environments with captions and labels, side-by-side subfigures using the subcaption package, and vector graphics with TikZ. The References section covers both classic BibTeX workflows (\cite, \bibliography, @article entries) and the modern biblatex/biber approach. The Packages category highlights the most important LaTeX packages: amsmath, geometry, hyperref, listings, and xcolor, with usage examples for each.
Key Features
- Math: inline $…$, display \[…\], fractions, roots, \sum/\int, multi-line align, and matrix environments
- Tables: tabular column alignment, \hline/\cline rules, \multicolumn merging, and booktabs professional style
- Figures: \includegraphics sizing, figure floats with \caption/\label, subfigures, and TikZ vector drawing
- Document structure: \documentclass, \usepackage, \title/\author/\date, and \section hierarchy
- Lists: itemize, enumerate, description, and nested list patterns
- Bibliography: \cite with page numbers, BibTeX @article entries, and biblatex/biber modern workflow
- Essential packages: amsmath, geometry, hyperref, listings for code, xcolor for color
- Settings: \newcommand, \renewcommand, \setlength, \pagestyle, and Korean support via kotex/babel
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the LaTeX Reference cover?
It covers eight practical areas: document structure (\documentclass, sections), math typesetting (equations, fractions, integrals, matrices), tables (tabular, booktabs), figures (\includegraphics, TikZ, subfigures), lists, bibliography management (BibTeX and biblatex), key packages, and page/layout settings.
What is the difference between inline and display math in LaTeX?
Inline math ($…$) renders equations within the text flow, keeping the text line height. Display math (\[…\]) places the equation on its own centered line with extra vertical spacing, making it suitable for important formulas. Use \begin{align} for multi-line equations that need to be aligned at a specific character.
How do I create a professional-looking table in LaTeX?
Use the booktabs package with \toprule, \midrule, and \bottomrule instead of \hline. This produces clean horizontal rules without vertical lines, which is the standard style in academic journals. Wrap the tabular inside a table float environment to add a caption and cross-reference label.
What is the difference between BibTeX and biblatex?
BibTeX is the classic workflow using \bibliographystyle and \bibliography commands. biblatex is a more modern and flexible system that supports styles like APA and Chicago, uses biber as its backend, and loads via \usepackage[style=apa,backend=biber]{biblatex} with \printbibliography to render the reference list.
How do I include an image in LaTeX?
Load the graphicx package with \usepackage{graphicx}, then use \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{filename}. For floating figures with captions, wrap it inside \begin{figure}[htbp]…\end{figure} and add \caption{} and \label{fig:name} for cross-referencing.
How do I define a custom command in LaTeX?
Use \newcommand{\cmdname}{definition} for new commands. For example, \newcommand{\R}{\mathbb{R}} lets you type \R instead of \mathbb{R}. For commands that take arguments, use \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\left\|#1\right\|} where [1] specifies one argument referenced as #1.
How do I add Korean text to a LaTeX document?
On a TeX Live installation, add \usepackage{kotex} to the preamble. This package handles Korean font loading and character encoding. For documents that mix Korean and English extensively, kotex provides automatic line-breaking and proper spacing according to Korean typographic conventions.
Can I use this reference without installing LaTeX?
Yes. This is a browser-based reference that shows syntax and examples. You can copy any command and paste it into your local LaTeX editor (e.g., Overleaf, TeXstudio, or VS Code with LaTeX Workshop) without installing anything to use this reference itself.