LaTeX (pronounced LAH-tekh or LAY-tekh) is the de facto standard software to write technical and scientific reports containing mathematical equations or programming code.
You can use LaTeX to produce high-quality written work that looks better than anything produced in Word. It also helps you keep track of references to equation numbers, bibliographies, and tables of contents automatically. It can handle graphics too. There are two options to get started...
Overleaf
To get started with LaTeX without installing any software, the Library, together with the School of Mathematics and the Faculty of Engineering, offer an Overleaf Professional account to all staff and students. Overleaf is an easy-to-use, online, collaborative LaTeX editor. You can sign up for your free account using your UoB email address.
Overleaf Professional features
Sign up for your account at the University of Bristol resource portal using your University of Bristol email.
Desktop
If you would like to write and compile your LaTeX documents from your own machine, rather than from a Cloud-based software like Overleaf, you will need to install:
Here are some instructions on what to do depending on your machine:
Further sources of LaTeX help and support...
BibTeX is commonly used with LaTeX to help organise references and create a bibliography. Each reference in the bibliography file (.bib) is formatted with a certain structure and is given a 'key' by which you refer to in the source .tex file. All major reference managers work with BibTeX.