---
name: "latex"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "texlive-doc"
version: "2026.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/latex"
---

# latex(1)

structured text formatting and typesetting

## NAME

latex, pdflatex, xelatex, lualatex, dvilualatex, cslatex, pdfcslatex, platex, uplatex, lamed - structured text formatting and typesetting

## SYNOPSIS

**latex** \[*options*\] \[***&**format*\]   \[ *file* \[ *more-input* \]  \|  \[ **\\***more-input* \]

## DESCRIPTION

LaTeX is a TeX macro package (format), not a modification to the compiled TeX programs, so see [**tex**(1)](/tex/1.md) for details of the command line invocation.

The LaTeX macros encourage writers to think about the content of their documents, rather than the form. The ideal, very difficult to realize, is to have no formatting commands (like \`\`switch to italic'' or \`\`skip 2 picas'') in the document, but to use generic markup instructions: \`\`emphasize'', \`\`start a section''.  The LaTeX language is described in the books and documents mentioned below, among others.

The primary source of documentation for LaTeX is the LaTeX manual  referenced below.

**lualatex**, **pdflatex**, **pdfcslatex**, **xelatex** are LaTeX formats based on the respective engines. These all output PDF by default. The lualatex format is built with the luahbtex engine, the LuaTeX variant with HarfBuzz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HarfBuzz) supported for glyph shaping.\
 **platex**, **uplatex** are Japanese LaTeX formats based on e-pTeX and e-upTeX (DVI output).\
 **lamed** is the Aleph-based LaTeX format (DVI output).\
 **dvilualatex** is LuaTeX-based and outputs DVI.\
 **cslatex** is csTeX-based (primitives integrated into pdfTeX) and outputs DVI.

On some systems, the commands **latex209** and **slitex** may still be available for compatibility with older versions of LaTeX. These should not be used for new documents.

## SEE ALSO

[**amstex**(1)](/amstex/1.md), [**luatex**(1)](/luatex/1.md), [**pdftex**(1)](/pdftex/1.md), [**ptex**(1)](/ptex/1.md), [**tex**(1)](/tex/1.md), [**xetex**(1)](/xetex/1.md).

Leslie Lamport, *LaTeX:*A*Document*Preparation*System*.\
 Frank Mittelbach with Ulrike Fischer, *The*LaTeX*Companion*, Addison-Wesley, 2024, ISBN 0-13-811578-8 (3rd edition). https://tug.org/l/tlc3

Package pages on CTAN: https://ctan.org/pkg/latex, https://ctan.org/pkg/latex-base\
 LaTeX tutorial topic on CTAN: https://ctan.org/topic/tut-latex\
 LaTeX reference topic on CTAN: https://ctan.org/topic/ref-latex

The LaTeX home page: https://latex-project.org\
 Online interactive tutorial: https://learnlatex.org\
 Getting started page: https://tug.org/begin

Please report bugs in LaTeX following the procedure at https://www.latex-project.org/bugs.

Public discussion list for all things TeX and LaTeX: https://lists.tug.org/texhax