How do I put a footnote inside a table or figure?

Floats like table and figure don't process \footnote, so split it: place \footnotemark where the mark goes and \footnotetext{your note} just after the float, which prints the note at the page bottom. Alternatively, the threeparttable package provides a tablenotes environment designed for notes attached to a specific table, which is cleaner for tables with several notes referenced by symbols.

How do I change footnotes to symbols instead of numbers?

Use \renewcommand{\thefootnote}{\fnsymbol{footnote}} to switch to the classic symbol sequence (asterisk, dagger, double dagger). This is common for title-page notes like author affiliations, where numeric footnotes would clash with citation numbers. To reset numbering on each page, load the perpage package and use \MakePerPage{footnote}. For author affiliations specifically, the authblk package handles the symbols automatically.

Why is my footnote appearing on the wrong page?

Long footnotes can split across a page break, and a footnote attached to text near the bottom of a page may push to the next. This is usually fine, but if a footnote lands awkwardly, rework the sentence so the mark sits earlier, or shorten the note. For footnotes inside a minipage, note that they appear at the bottom of the minipage, not the page — a frequent surprise when using boxes.

How to Add Footnotes & Margin Notes in LaTeX

To add a footnote in LaTeX, type \footnote{text} immediately after the word that should carry the mark — LaTeX numbers it and places the note at the bottom of the page automatically. For notes beside the text, use \marginpar{text} or the marginnote package. Footnotes need special handling inside tables and figures, covered below.

1. The basic footnote

LaTeX was created by Leslie Lamport\footnote{In the early 1980s, atop Knuth's TeX.}.

Place \footnote right after the word with no space before it, so the superscript mark hugs the word. Numbering is automatic and continuous.

2. Margin notes

This claim needs a source.\marginpar{Check Smith 2024.}

\marginpar puts a note in the margin. The marginnote package adds \marginnote{}, which works in more contexts (including where \marginpar fails, like inside floats).

3. Footnotes in tables and figures

Floats don't process \footnote. Use the two-part commands:

\begin{table}[t]
  \centering
  \begin{tabular}{ll}
    Value & 42\footnotemark \\
  \end{tabular}
\end{table}
\footnotetext{Measured at room temperature.}

\footnotemark places the number; \footnotetext (after the float) prints the note. For tables with several notes, the threeparttable package's tablenotes environment is cleaner — see the tables guide.

4. Customizing footnotes

| Goal | Command | |---|---| | Symbols instead of numbers | \renewcommand{\thefootnote}{\fnsymbol{footnote}} | | Reset per page | \MakePerPage{footnote} (perpage package) | | Author affiliation marks | authblk package | | Footnote without a mark | \footnotetext with manual \footnotemark |

5. A note on minipages

Footnotes inside a minipage appear at the bottom of the box, not the page — a common surprise. The same float limitation affects algorithms, which also need \footnotemark/\footnotetext.

→ See footnotes placed correctly as you type in LetX.

Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs, maker of LetX.