LaTeX Guide : Introduction
LaTeX Guide
What is LaTeX?
LaTeX is a free document preparation mark-up language that allows for high quality typesetting. It is used most often for medium to large size documents but can be used for any situation. It is an alternative to using a word processor to format your document. In LaTeX the text of the document is marked-up using LaTeX commands to determine formatting, similar to using CSS to format HTML.
LaTeX contains features for:
- Typesetting journal articles, technical reports, books, and slide presentations
- Sectioning, cross-references, tables and figures
- Typesetting of complex mathematical formulas
- Advanced typesetting of mathematics with AMS-LaTeX
- Automatic generation of bibliographies and indexes
- Multi-lingual typesetting
- Inclusion of artwork, and process or spot color
- Using PostScript or Metafont fonts
Quick links
- LaTeX ProjectLearn more about LaTeX. The LaTeX Project site includes information about LaTeX, where to get the software, and updates to the system.
- TeX Users Group (TUG)A membership-based, nonprofit organization for TeX users. The TUG website includes guides for getting started, information on where to get help with TeX, and events for members.
- Comprehensive TeX Archive Network (CTAN)The central repository for TeX-related software. Most packages are free to download and use.
Getting Software
Linux
Check your usual software source for a TeX package; otherwise install TeX Live directly.
MacOS
The MacTeX distribution contains everything you need.
Windows
Both MikTeX and TeX Live will work for Windows.
Other options
- Get LaTeXA variety of options for getting up and running with LaTeX, from the LaTeX project.
- OverleafOverleaf is an online collaborative writing and publishing tool for scientific documents. Overleaf provides a LaTeX editor, real-time collaboration, and the fully compiled output is produced automatically in the background as you type.
