LaTeX Math Symbols: The Complete Reference
The complete LaTeX math symbol reference: Greek letters, operators, relations, arrows, sets, and accents — with the exact command for each, ready to copy.
This is the complete LaTeX math symbol reference — Greek letters, operators, relations, arrows, sets, and accents — with the exact command for each. Load amsmath and amssymb in your preamble and every symbol below works inside math mode ($...$ or \[...\]). Bookmark this page; it covers the symbols that appear in 95% of scientific writing.
Greek letters
| Lowercase | Command | Uppercase | Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| α | \alpha | Γ | \Gamma |
| β | \beta | Δ | \Delta |
| γ | \gamma | Θ | \Theta |
| δ | \delta | Λ | \Lambda |
| ε | \epsilon, \varepsilon | Σ | \Sigma |
| θ | \theta | Φ | \Phi |
| λ | \lambda | Ψ | \Psi |
| μ | \mu | Ω | \Omega |
| π | \pi | Π | \Pi |
| σ | \sigma | | |
Uppercase forms that look like Latin letters (A, B, E) have no special command — just type the letter.
Operators and big operators
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| × | \times | ∑ | \sum |
| ÷ | \div | ∏ | \prod |
| ± | \pm | ∫ | \int |
| ∓ | \mp | ∬ | \iint |
| ⋅ | \cdot | ∮ | \oint |
| ∘ | \circ | ⋃ | \bigcup |
| ⊕ | \oplus | ⋂ | \bigcap |
| ⊗ | \otimes | √ | \sqrt{} |
Add limits with subscripts/superscripts: \sum_{i=1}^{n}, \int_a^b.
Relations
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ | \leq | ≈ | \approx |
| ≥ | \geq | ≡ | \equiv |
| ≠ | \neq | ∼ | \sim |
| ≪ | \ll | ∝ | \propto |
| ≫ | \gg | ≅ | \cong |
| ∈ | \in | ⊂ | \subset |
| ∉ | \notin | ⊆ | \subseteq |
Arrows
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| → | \to, \rightarrow | ⇒ | \Rightarrow |
| ← | \leftarrow | ⇔ | \Leftrightarrow |
| ↔ | \leftrightarrow | ↦ | \mapsto |
| ⟶ | \longrightarrow | ⇑ | \Uparrow |
Sets, logic, and blackboard bold
| Symbol | Command |
|---|---|
| ∀ | \forall |
| ∃ | \exists |
| ∅ | \emptyset, \varnothing |
| ∞ | \infty |
| ∇ | \nabla |
| ∂ | \partial |
| ℝ ℕ ℤ ℚ ℂ | \mathbb{R} \mathbb{N} \mathbb{Z} \mathbb{Q} \mathbb{C} |
| ∴ ∵ | \therefore \because |
\mathbb and \therefore require amssymb.
Accents and decorations
| Result | Command |
|---|---|
| x̂ | \hat{x} |
| x̄ | \bar{x} |
| x⃗ (vector) | \vec{x} |
| ẋ | \dot{x} |
| x̃ | \tilde{x} |
| overline | \overline{abc} |
| overbrace | \overbrace{abc}^{n} |
Can't find a symbol?
Draw it at Detexify to get the command, or check the full amssymb documentation. For how these fit into equations and alignment, see How to Write Math Equations in LaTeX and Typeset Matrices & Vectors.
→ Try any symbol and see it render instantly in LetX's live math preview.
Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs, maker of LetX.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the LaTeX command for a symbol I can draw but can't name?
Use Detexify, a free tool where you draw the symbol with your mouse and it returns the matching LaTeX command and the package that defines it. It is the fastest way to identify an obscure symbol. For everyday symbols, the categorized tables in this reference cover Greek letters, operators, relations, arrows, and set notation, all of which are defined by the core amsmath and amssymb packages.
Why does a symbol like \mathbb or \therefore give an undefined control sequence error?
Those symbols live in extension packages, not in base LaTeX. \mathbb (blackboard bold, for sets like the reals) needs \usepackage{amssymb}; \therefore and \because also need amssymb; bold math vectors via \bm need \usepackage{bm}. Add the right \usepackage line to your preamble and the command resolves. As a rule, load amsmath and amssymb in every math document.
How do I make a symbol bigger, like a large summation sign?
Summation, product, and integral signs automatically grow in display math (\[...\] or the equation environment) versus inline math ($...$). To force the larger 'display' size inline, use \displaystyle before the operator, e.g. $\displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^{n}$. For delimiters like parentheses around a tall fraction, use \left( and \right) so they scale to the content.