Beginner Tutorial

LaTeX Tutorial for Beginners: Learn LaTeX in 30 Minutes

A complete guide to getting started with LaTeX. Learn document structure, math equations, figures, tables, and citations—everything you need to write professional documents.

Last updated: March 19, 2026

What is LaTeX?

LaTeX (pronounced "LAY-tech" or "LAH-tech") is a document preparation system used for creating professional-quality documents, especially those with complex mathematical notation.

It's the standard for:

  • Academic papers and journal articles
  • Theses and dissertations
  • Technical documentation
  • Books and presentations
1. Your First LaTeX Document
Every LaTeX document has a basic structure. Here's the minimum you need:
\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

Hello, World!

\end{document}

documentclass defines the type (article, report, book). Everything between \begin{document} and \end{document} is your content.

2. Document Structure
Add title, author, sections, and subsections:
\documentclass{article}
\title{My First Paper}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}

\begin{document}
\maketitle

\section{Introduction}
This is the introduction.

\subsection{Background}
Some background information.

\section{Methods}
The methodology section.

\end{document}

\maketitle creates the title block. Sections are automatically numbered.

3. Text Formatting
Basic text styling in LaTeX:
\textbf{Bold text}
\textit{Italic text}
\underline{Underlined text}
\texttt{Monospace text}

% This is a comment (not shown in output)

New paragraphs need a blank line.

Like this one.

Use commands for formatting. Comments start with %. Blank lines create new paragraphs.

4. Math Equations
LaTeX excels at mathematical notation:
Inline math: $E = mc^2$

Display math:
\[
  \int_0^\infty e^{-x^2} dx = \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}
\]

Fractions: $\frac{a}{b}$
Greek letters: $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$
Subscripts: $x_1, x_2$
Superscripts: $x^2, x^{10}$

$ for inline math, \[ \] for display math. Use backslash for special symbols.

5. Lists
Create bulleted and numbered lists:
\begin{itemize}
  \item First bullet point
  \item Second bullet point
  \item Third bullet point
\end{itemize}

\begin{enumerate}
  \item First numbered item
  \item Second numbered item
  \item Third numbered item
\end{enumerate}

itemize for bullets, enumerate for numbers. Nest lists by putting one inside another.

6. Figures
Include images in your document:
\usepackage{graphicx} % Add to preamble

\begin{figure}[h]
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{image.png}
  \caption{A descriptive caption}
  \label{fig:myfigure}
\end{figure}

Reference: Figure \ref{fig:myfigure}

[h] means 'here'. \label and \ref create cross-references. width controls size.

7. Tables
Create simple tables:
\begin{table}[h]
  \centering
  \begin{tabular}{|l|c|r|}
    \hline
    Left & Center & Right \\
    \hline
    A & B & C \\
    D & E & F \\
    \hline
  \end{tabular}
  \caption{A simple table}
  \label{tab:mytable}
\end{table}

l/c/r = left/center/right alignment. | adds vertical lines. \hline adds horizontal lines.

8. Citations
Add references to your document:
% In your .bib file:
@article{einstein1905,
  author = {Albert Einstein},
  title = {On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies},
  journal = {Annalen der Physik},
  year = {1905}
}

% In your .tex file:
\usepackage{cite} % Add to preamble

According to Einstein \cite{einstein1905}...

\bibliographystyle{plain}
\bibliography{references}

Create a .bib file with references. Use \cite{key} to cite. Bibliography is generated automatically.

Essential Packages

Packages extend LaTeX's functionality. Add them to your preamble with \\usepackage{package}

graphicxInclude images
amsmathAdvanced math equations
hyperrefClickable links and references
geometryPage margins and layout
biblatexModern bibliography management
booktabsProfessional tables

Complete Starter Template

\documentclass[12pt]{article}

% Packages
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{hyperref}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}

% Document info
\title{Your Paper Title}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}

\begin{document}

\maketitle

\begin{abstract}
Your abstract goes here.
\end{abstract}

\section{Introduction}
Your introduction text.

\section{Methods}
Your methods text.

\section{Results}
Your results text.

\section{Conclusion}
Your conclusion text.

\end{document}
Skip the Learning Curve

Don't want to learn LaTeX syntax? TypeTeX offers a modern alternative:

Typst (Recommended)

Modern syntax that's 10x easier than LaTeX. Write *bold* instead of \textbf{bold}. Compiles in milliseconds.

AI Assistance

Not sure about syntax? Ask the AI assistant. It generates LaTeX or Typst code for you based on plain English descriptions.

Next Steps

Typst vs LaTeX
Learn about Typst, a modern alternative with simpler syntax
AI Writing Guide
How to use AI tools for academic writing

Note: This is a beginner-friendly introduction. LaTeX has many more features. For comprehensive documentation, see Overleaf's LaTeX tutorials or the CTAN package archive. Last updated: 3/19/2026.

LaTeX Tutorial for Beginners: Learn LaTeX in 30 Minutes | 2026 | TypeTeX