LaTeX-Assistant - LaTeX Realtime Editor

Frequent LaTeX Inputs

Click on a TeX example with the mouse and it will appear in the editor above.

Fraction: \frac{x}{2} Square root: \sqrt{x} nth root: \sqrt[a]{x} Power: {x}^{2} or x^{2} Logarithm: \log_{a}{x} Vector: \vec{x} Subscript: {x}_{1,2} Dot: \cdot Division sign: \div Plus-minus: \pm Infinity: \infty

Integral: \int \limits_{0}^{\infty} Limit: \lim\limits_{x\to\infty} Sum: \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{n} Product: \prod_{n=0}^{\infty}{n} Greater than or equal to: \geq Less than or equal to: \leq Not equal to: \neq Approximately: \approx Element of: \in Column vector: \begin{pmatrix} x\\y\\z \end{pmatrix} Matrix: \begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix}

Shortcodes for the Editor

With the shortcodes, you can quickly generate the necessary LaTeX code in the editor above. Just type it in! For example, type ##f and it will become \frac{}{}.

##ca

≈

##f

\frac{}{}

##lim

\lim\limits_{x\to\infty}

##log

\log_{}{}

##mat

\begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix}

##prod

\prod_{n=0}^{\infty}{n}

##r

\sqrt{}

##R

\sqrt[]{}

##sub

x_{1,2}

##sum

\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{n}

##sup

x^{y}

##t

\text{}

##vec

\begin{pmatrix} x\\y\\z \end{pmatrix}

##vek

\begin{pmatrix} x\\y\\z \end{pmatrix}

##w

\sqrt{}

##W

\sqrt[]{}

LaTeX Tips

Instead of dollar signs $$ LaTeX $$ you can also set inline text: $ LaTeX $
Line breaks can be set manually with \\. The size of the line spacing can be controlled with \\[50pt].
A space is created with \quad. A double space with \qquad. A small space with \, or \;. Alternatively, you can use \phantom{x}, where any character can be used for x. These characters are hidden when rendering, but the space remains. Or simply \space for a space.
Align LaTeX to the left with \begin{aligned} LATEX \end{aligned}, set a & at the aligned position in each line. Example for all equal signs aligned:
$\begin{aligned} 2x &= 6 \\ x &= 3 \end{aligned} $
Frequently used formulas can be found here: Collection of frequently used formulas in LaTeX (LaTeX templates)
All important math symbols with LaTeX equivalents can be found here: Math Symbols (with LaTeX)
German umlauts like ä ö ü cannot be displayed correctly by online Latex, instead a different font is chosen. Remedy: Place the two dots on the letter with \ddot{}. It's not perfect and unfortunately cannot be used within \text{}, but it is an alternative.
Frames or borders can be created with \boxed{x^2}.
An overview of all LaTeX commands can be found here: TEX Commands available in MathJax

LaTeX Help for Beginners

Is LaTeX new to you?

Also, check out the video tutorial: What is LaTeX, how to input, and what are the advantages of LaTeX?
Use the TeX Reference (PDF) to learn more commands. Likewise, you can find an extensive TeX help on Wikipedia.
Install the script "TeX Writing Assistant", which makes input very easy and quick.

What is TeX? What is LaTeX?

Simply put, “TeX” is a notation for mathematical symbols. It is also called a typesetting system. Input is done using the keyboard, where formatting and mathematical symbols are entered in text form and then converted later. For example, the input of a ≤ b - β in TeX is done as follows: a \leq b - \beta. This TeX code is then converted to: $ a \leq b - \beta $.

The conversion is handled by LaTeX software on the computer or online by the Javascript library MathJax or Katex. In a narrow sense, TeX is a program that reads text and outputs mathematical graphics. Incidentally, the terms TeX and LaTeX are now used interchangeably. TeX is actually many years old, it was developed by Donald E. Knuth over 9 years and completed in 1986.

Difference between TeX and LaTeX

According to the English source "What is the difference between TeX and LaTeX?", it is said that TeX is both: a program that handles typesetting and a format, i.e., the plain text that is later converted to mathematical notation. TeX provides the fundamentals.

LaTeX, on the other hand, consists of macros (functionalities) that save us a lot of work. Instead of tediously setting/programming sections, page titles, and bibliographies in TeX, we can use LaTeX macros for this purpose.

Pronunciation of TeX

There are always discussions about how “TeX” is correctly pronounced. Basically, it is up to the individual. Germans often pronounce the “X” as “x” because it looks like an X. However, if you know that each letter T-e-X represents a Greek letter, namely T - Tau Τ, e - Epsilon ε, and X - Chi χ, and if you know how to pronounce Chi, then 'TeX' or 'Τεχ' becomes 'TeCH', where the "ch" is pronounced as in "ach". Here is an example of the correct pronunciation of TeX (mp3).

LaTeX Special Characters

There are reserved characters in LaTeX that give commands to the parser. If you want to display such a special character, you must put a backslash \ before it. For example, if you want the percent sign, you must enter: \%

In LaTeX, these special characters take precedence and are understood as "functions," not as characters.

List of special characters:

\	masks a special character, or the beginning of a LaTeX command
{ }	after a command, the argument follows in curly braces
%	comment follows, everything after the percent sign (in the same line) is ignored
^	exponent character (superscript)
_	index character (subscript)
&	tabulator, e.g., in matrix or array
#	parameter
~	space (protected)
[ ]	square brackets
< >	angle brackets
"	quotation marks