Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
A LaTeX notes template is a short .tex file with a document class, a few packages and a section structure that you reuse for every set of lecture, reading or lab notes. This page gives you a template you can paste into an empty project, explains each part using the Overleaf documentation, and shows where ready-made lecture-note templates are listed. It covers the searches “latex notes template”, “latex note template”, “latex template for notes” and “latex template notes”, which all describe the same task.
What a LaTeX notes template is used for in research
Researchers and students use a notes template to keep derivations, definitions, reading summaries and meeting notes in one consistent structure that compiles to a PDF. The value is the structure: numbered sections that you can cite, a table of contents, and theorem-style boxes for definitions and results. If you want a method for deciding what to write down, see note-taking methods for researchers; this page covers only the LaTeX side.
Install or access
You can compile the template in two ways.
- In the browser with Overleaf. Create a new project, paste the template into the main .tex file and press Recompile to generate the PDF. Overleaf also has an Auto Compile setting, reached from the arrow next to Recompile, which you can set to On (Overleaf documentation, “Creating a document in LaTeX”, read 2026-11-07).
- On your own computer with a local LaTeX distribution and an editor. The guide to TeXstudio covers one such editor.
Step by step: build a notes template
1. Start from a minimal document
Every LaTeX document has a document class declared before \begin{document}. The minimal structure is \documentclass{article}, then \begin{document} and \end{document}; anything between the class line and \begin{document} is the preamble (Overleaf documentation, “Creating a document in LaTeX”, read 2026-11-07).
2. Choose article or report/book
The class decides the top sectioning level. In article the top level is \section; in report and book it is \chapter (or \part) (Overleaf documentation, “Sections and chapters”, read 2026-11-07). For a single course or topic, article is the simpler choice. Choose report or book only when each lecture or topic deserves a chapter. This is also the answer to the related “LaTeX book template” searches: a book template is the same idea with \chapter as the top level.
3. Paste the template
This template uses only commands described in the Overleaf documentation pages cited on this page.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsthm}
% Theorem-style environments (numbered within each section)
\newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem}[section]
\theoremstyle{definition}
\newtheorem{definition}{Definition}[section]
\theoremstyle{remark}
\newtheorem*{remark}{Remark}
% Show numbering down to subsubsection
\setcounter{secnumdepth}{3}
\title{Course or Topic Notes}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\tableofcontents
\section{First lecture}
\subsection{Key ideas}
Notes go here.
\begin{definition}[Term]
State the definition here.
\end{definition}
\begin{theorem}[Named result]
\label{thm:first}
State the result here, with maths such as $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$.
\end{theorem}
\begin{proof}
Sketch the argument here.
\end{proof}
\section*{Unnumbered section}
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Unnumbered section}
Text that you want listed in the table of contents without a number.
\end{document}4. Understand each part
\tableofcontentsinserts the table of contents (Overleaf documentation, “Table of contents”, read 2026-11-07).- The sectioning levels run
\part(-1),\chapter(0),\section(1),\subsection(2),\subsubsection(3),\paragraph(4) and\subparagraph(5). A starred command such as\section*{Title}is unnumbered and left out of the table of contents;\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Title}adds it back (Overleaf, “Sections and chapters”, read 2026-11-07). \setcounter{secnumdepth}{3}in the preamble changes how deep numbering goes; in the Overleaf book example\subsubsectionis unnumbered by default (same page).\usepackage{amsthm}provides theproofenvironment and\newtheorem.\newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem}[section]creates a theorem counter that restarts in each section. Set\theoremstyle{definition}or\theoremstyle{remark}before the\newtheoremit applies to; the starred form\newtheorem*is unnumbered. Reference a labelled result with\ref{thm:first}(Overleaf documentation, “Theorems and proofs”, read 2026-11-07).
5. Reuse it
Save the file as your master template and copy it for each course or project. Keep the preamble unchanged and replace only the title, author and sections. If you also write papers, the same habits carry over: see how to insert figures in LaTeX, Overleaf font sizes and LaTeX bibliography styles for citing readings in your notes.
Output and how to read it
Compiling produces a PDF with a title block, a table of contents, numbered sections, and labelled definition and theorem blocks. Theorem-style environments print their name in the style set by \theoremstyle: plain (the default for theorems) gives a bold title with italic body, definition a bold title with upright body, and remark an italic title with upright body (Overleaf, “Theorems and proofs”, read 2026-11-07). The optional text in square brackets, such as [Named result], is printed beside the number.
Troubleshooting
- The PDF does not update. Press Recompile, or turn Auto Compile on from the arrow next to it (Overleaf, “Creating a document in LaTeX”).
- A section is missing from the table of contents. A starred section is deliberately excluded; add
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Title}as in the template. - A subsubsection has no number. Numbering depth is set by
secnumdepth; the template sets it to 3. - The theorem or definition environment is reported as undefined. The environment must be declared with
\newtheoremin the preamble, after\usepackage{amsthm}and, for a style, after the matching\theoremstyleline. - Collaborating on shared notes. See LaTeX and Overleaf collaborative writing.
Ready-made templates and free alternatives
| Option | What it offers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Overleaf lecture-notes template gallery | Gallery listing templates named “Lecture Notes”, “Class Notes Template”, “Math Notes and Homeworks Template” and “Lecture Note Template” | overleaf.com/latex/templates/tagged/lecture-notes, read 2026-11-07 |
| Your own template from this page | A short preamble you control and can extend | Overleaf documentation pages cited above |
| Local editor | Compile the same .tex file offline; see the TeXstudio guide | CASRAI guide |
| Other collaborative editors | Browser-based alternatives to Overleaf | See Overleaf alternatives |
Check the licence and options shown on any template page before reusing it.
FAQ
What is the difference between “latex notes template” and “latex note template”?
Nothing: they are variants of the same search. Both mean a reusable .tex file for notes, as built above.
Should I use article or book for lecture notes?
Use article when \section is the top level you need; use report or book when you want \chapter as the top level (Overleaf, “Sections and chapters”).
How do I keep an unnumbered section in the table of contents?
Use \section*{Title} followed by \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Title}.
Where do I find a ready-made notes template?
The Overleaf lecture-notes gallery lists several; the table above names them.
Sources
- Overleaf documentation, Creating a document in LaTeX, read 2026-11-07.
- Overleaf documentation, Sections and chapters, read 2026-11-07.
- Overleaf documentation, Table of contents, read 2026-11-07.
- Overleaf documentation, Theorems and proofs, read 2026-11-07.
- Overleaf, Lecture notes templates, read 2026-11-07.
