Getting started with Scissor LaTeX

Open the editor, choose New project and start typing. The pages below explain the editor itself; the Learn LaTeX section explains the language.

Pages in this section

• What is Scissor LaTeX?Scissor LaTeX is a LaTeX editor that runs entirely in your browser. You write LaTeX on the left and see typeset pages on the right as you type, with nothing to install and no server that compiles your work.
• Your first LaTeX documentStart with \documentclass{article}, put your text between \begin{document} and \end{document}, and the editor shows the typeset page as you type.
• Projects and filesA project is a set of files kept on your device, one of which is the main file that gets typeset. You can import a whole project at once by opening a .zip or a folder, for example one downloaded from another LaTeX editor.
• Saving to Google DriveClick Drive at the top of the editor (or press Ctrl+S once a project is in Drive) to save the whole project to a folder in your Google Drive. To open a project, choose Open from Google Drive or Open a folder from Google Drive when you start a new project.
• Offline LaTeX editor: write and typeset without internetScissor LaTeX works as an offline LaTeX editor: after your first visit, your browser keeps the editor, the tools, the typesetter and the main fonts, so writing, typesetting, PDF export and your projects work without internet. After each update of the site, open it online once. Google Drive needs a connection, and some fonts (Noto for other scripts, Libertinus for the ACM layout, Latin Modern Sans and TeX Gyre Heros) download the first time a document uses them.
• Export PDF, HTML and MarkdownClick Export at the top of the editor and pick a format. PDF gives you the typeset pages; Web page (HTML) and Markdown give you the text for the web or for notes; .zip gives you every file of the project.
• Keyboard shortcutsThe most used ones are Ctrl+B and Ctrl+I for bold and italic, Ctrl+/ to comment lines out, Ctrl+F to find, Ctrl+Space for suggestions and Ctrl+S to save. On a Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl.

A first look

This is what a document looks like in Scissor LaTeX: a little source on one side, the typeset result on the other. Copy it into a new project to try it yourself.

Hello, LaTeX

LaTeXCopyOpen in editor (opens in a new tab)

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\section{Hello}
This is my first document. It has \textbf{bold} text,
\emph{emphasis} and a formula: $e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$.
\end{document}

Once you know your way around the editor, continue with Document structure in the Learn LaTeX section.

See also What is Scissor LaTeX?, Your first document and Keyboard shortcuts.

Every example on this page is typeset by Scissor LaTeX when the site is built. Last updated 2026-11-07.