LaTeX Cheat Sheet: Essential Commands (2026)
A LaTeX cheat sheet of essential commands: document structure, text formatting, math, lists, tables, figures and references — copy-paste ready.
This LaTeX cheat sheet covers the essential commands you need daily: document structure, text formatting, math mode, lists, tables, figures, and references. Every command is copy-paste ready — compile them live in LetX or explore the interactive cheat sheets and math symbols reference at learn.letx.app.
Document structure
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
| \documentclass{article} | Set document type |
| \usepackage{...} | Load a package (preamble) |
| \begin{document} … \end{document} | Document body |
| \title{} \author{} \date{} | Title block metadata |
| \maketitle | Render the title block |
| \tableofcontents | Auto table of contents |
| \section{} \subsection{} | Numbered headings |
Text formatting
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| \textbf{bold} | bold |
| \textit{italic} | italic |
| \underline{text} | underlined |
| \texttt{mono} | monospace |
| \emph{emphasis} | context-aware italics |
| \\ | line break |
| \newpage | page break |
Math mode
Inline math uses $...$; display math uses \[...\] or environments.
Inline: $E = mc^2$.
Display:
\[ \int_a^b f(x)\,dx \]
Aligned:
\begin{align}
a &= b + c \\
x &= y - z
\end{align}
| Command | Renders |
|---|---|
| \frac{a}{b} | fraction |
| x^{2} / x_{i} | superscript / subscript |
| \sqrt{x} / \sqrt[n]{x} | root |
| \sum \prod \int | big operators |
| \alpha \beta \gamma \pi | Greek letters |
| \infty \partial \nabla | symbols |
| \leq \geq \neq \approx | relations |
Lists
\begin{itemize}
\item Bullet point
\end{itemize}
\begin{enumerate}
\item Numbered item
\end{enumerate}
Use the enumitem package to customize spacing and labels.
Tables
\begin{table}[h]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{l c r}
\hline
Left & Center & Right \\
\hline
a & b & c \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{A simple table}
\end{table}
Column spec: l left, c center, r right, | vertical rule. The booktabs package (\toprule, \midrule, \bottomrule) makes professional tables.
Figures
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{figure}[h]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{image.png}
\caption{A figure}
\label{fig:example}
\end{figure}
Reference it with Figure~\ref{fig:example}. Float placement: h here, t top, b bottom, p own page.
Cross-references and citations
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
| \label{key} | Mark a target |
| \ref{key} | Reference number |
| \eqref{key} | Equation reference |
| \cite{key} | In-text citation |
| \bibliography{file} | Insert bibliography |
Cross-references need two compiles to resolve — the first writes labels, the second reads them.
Common preamble packages
| Package | Adds |
|---|---|
| amsmath, amssymb | Advanced math + symbols |
| graphicx | Images |
| booktabs | Clean tables |
| hyperref | Clickable links + PDF metadata |
| geometry | Margin control |
| enumitem | List customization |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most essential LaTeX commands?
\documentclass, \section, $...$ for math, \textbf/\textit, itemize/enumerate, tabular, \includegraphics, and \cite cover most documents.
How do I write fractions and integrals in LaTeX?
Use \frac{a}{b} for fractions and \int_a^b for integrals inside math mode ($...$ or \[...\]).
Why do my cross-references show as ???
You need to compile twice — LaTeX writes labels on the first pass and resolves \ref/\cite on the second.
Which packages should I always load?
amsmath, graphicx, hyperref, and booktabs are safe defaults for almost any document.
Where can I practice these commands? Compile them live in LetX, or follow the free course at learn.letx.app.
Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs. Browse the live LaTeX cheat sheets and math symbols reference at learn.letx.app, and compile in LetX. Also building freelm.