LaTeX Guide

LaTeX Appendix

Use \appendix before your appendix sections. Numbering switches from 1, 2, 3 to A, B, C. That's the basic version.

Minimal example

\section{Introduction}     % 1 Introduction
\section{Methods}          % 2 Methods
\section{Results}          % 3 Results

\appendix                  % switches numbering to A, B, C

\section{Data Tables}      % A Data Tables
\section{Proofs}           % B Proofs
\section{Code}             % C Code

With explicit "Appendices" heading (manual)

\section{Conclusion}       % last main section

\section*{Appendices}      % unnumbered heading
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Appendices}

\appendix
\section{Data Tables}      % A Data Tables
\section{Proofs}           % B Proofs

Using the appendix package

\usepackage[toc, page]{appendix}

% In document body
\begin{appendices}
  \section{Data Tables}     % A Data Tables (with "Appendix" prefix)
  \section{Proofs}
\end{appendices}

The [toc] option adds an "Appendices" header to the TOC. [page] adds a page-break-style appendix divider page in the document.

Restart figure/table numbering in appendix

\appendix

% Figures become A.1, A.2, B.1
\renewcommand{\thefigure}{\thesection.\arabic{figure}}
\setcounter{figure}{0}

% Same for tables
\renewcommand{\thetable}{\thesection.\arabic{table}}
\setcounter{table}{0}

\section{First Appendix}
\begin{figure}[h]
  ...
  \caption{First appendix figure.}    % "Figure A.1"
\end{figure}

Cross-references

\appendix
\section{Data Tables}\label{app:data}

% Reference in main text:
% "See Appendix~\ref{app:data} for details."
% Renders: "See Appendix A for details."

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting \appendix before the appendix sections. They'll be numbered 4, 5, 6 instead of A, B, C.
  • Calling \appendix twice. Resets numbering and confuses references.
  • Expecting an "Appendix" heading automatically. Bare \appendix doesn't add one. Use the appendix package or manual \section*.
  • Figure numbering not restarting. By default it continues. Reset with \renewcommand + \setcounter as shown.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add an appendix in LaTeX?

Insert the \appendix command before your appendix section(s). Subsequent \section (or \chapter in book class) commands get lettered numbering: A, B, C instead of 1, 2, 3. Each \section after \appendix is treated as an appendix entry. Place \appendix after your last numbered section and before the appendix sections.

What does the \appendix command actually do?

It switches the section counter format from arabic (1, 2, 3) to alphabetic (A, B, C) and resets the counter to 0 (so the next \section becomes A). It does NOT add a heading like 'Appendix' itself — you'd add that manually with \section*{Appendices} or use the appendix package.

How do I add a heading like 'Appendices' before my appendix sections?

Manually: \section*{Appendices} \appendix \section{First Appendix}. Or use the appendix package: \usepackage[toc,page]{appendix} and \begin{appendices} ... \end{appendices}. The package adds 'Appendices' to the TOC automatically.

How do I number figures and tables in the appendix?

Default behavior: figure/table numbering continues from the main document (Figure 7, Table 5). To restart at A.1: place \renewcommand{\thefigure}{\thesection.\arabic{figure}} after \appendix. Then Figure A.1 in appendix A, Figure A.2, B.1 in appendix B, etc.

Does \appendix work in book and report classes?

Yes, with \chapter instead of \section. \appendix \chapter{First Appendix Chapter} produces 'Appendix A: First Appendix Chapter'. The book class includes 'Appendix' in the chapter title automatically.

How do I include the appendix in the table of contents?

By default, \section after \appendix appears in the TOC as 'A First Appendix' (just the letter and title). To add a 'Appendices' header in the TOC: use the appendix package with [toc] option, or manually \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Appendices}.

Should each appendix be its own .tex file?

For long appendices, yes. Use \input{appendix-a.tex} after \appendix to keep main.tex clean. Each appendix file starts with \section{...}. Same approach as splitting any large document into multiple files.

How do I cross-reference an appendix?

Add \label{app:data} after \section{Data Tables}. Then \ref{app:data} produces 'A' (just the letter). For 'Appendix A', combine: 'Appendix~\ref{app:data}'. Hyperref makes these clickable.

What's the difference between \appendix and using the appendix package?

\appendix is built-in — works everywhere, no installs. The appendix package (separate package) adds features: an explicit 'Appendices' heading, environment-style \begin{appendices}, page break before, and TOC inclusion. Use the package for thesis-style projects; bare \appendix is fine for shorter papers.

More LaTeX guides