How to Write an Arrow in LaTeX

Arrows are math-mode commands named after their direction: \rightarrow (or \to) gives →, \leftarrow gives ←, \leftrightarrow gives ↔. Capitalize the first letter for a double arrow (\Rightarrow ⇒), add long for a longer one (\longrightarrow), and use \xrightarrow{text} for an arrow with a label.

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Arrow commands

\rightarrow
$\to$
Right arrow; \to is the same symbol.
\leftarrow
$\leftarrow$
Left arrow; \gets is the same.
\leftrightarrow
$\leftrightarrow$
Left-right arrow.
\Rightarrow
$\Rightarrow$
Double right arrow (implication in logic).
\Leftrightarrow
$\Leftrightarrow$
Double left-right arrow (equivalence).
\implies
$⟹$
Long double arrow with extra space (amsmath); \iff for ⟺.
\longrightarrow
$⟶$
Long right arrow; \Longrightarrow for the double version.
\mapsto
$\mapsto$
Maps to (x ↦ f(x)); \longmapsto for a long one.
\uparrow \downarrow \updownarrow
$↑↓↕$
Vertical arrows; capitalize for double ones.
\nearrow \searrow \swarrow \nwarrow
$↗↘↙↖$
Diagonal arrows (north-east, south-east, …).
\hookrightarrow
$↪$
Hook arrow for an inclusion or embedding.
\rightleftharpoons
$⇌$
Harpoons for a reversible chemical reaction.
\xrightarrow{f}
$\overset{f}{\to}$
Arrow that stretches under a label (amsmath); \xleftarrow points left.

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LaTeX

Templates

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Arrows examples

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Function signature
$f : R \to R$
LaTeX
```
f \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}
```
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Limit notation
$lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{1}{x} = 0$
LaTeX
```
\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{1}{x} = 0
```
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Implication chain
$x > 2 ⟹ x^{2} > 4 ⟹ x^{2} \neq 0$
LaTeX
```
x > 2 \implies x^2 > 4 \implies x^2 \neq 0
```
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Equivalence
$a = b ⟺ b = a$
LaTeX
```
a = b \iff b = a
```
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Labeled arrow

A \overset{ϕ}{\to} B \to_{onto}^{ψ} C

LaTeX

A \xrightarrow{\ \phi\ } B \xrightarrow[\text{onto}]{\ \psi\ } C

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Maps to
$x \mapsto x^{2} + 1$
LaTeX
```
x \mapsto x^2 + 1
```
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Chemical equilibrium

N_{2} + 3 H_{2} ⇌ 2 {NH}_{3}

LaTeX

\mathrm{N_2} + 3\,\mathrm{H_2} \rightleftharpoons 2\,\mathrm{NH_3}

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Vector arrow over letters
$\vec{A B} + \vec{B C} = \vec{A C}$
LaTeX
```
\overrightarrow{AB} + \overrightarrow{BC} = \overrightarrow{AC}
```
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Which arrow to use

Use \to for functions and limits (f: A → B, x → 0), \mapsto for where an element goes (x ↦ x²), \Rightarrow or \implies for logical implication, and \iff or \Leftrightarrow for "if and only if". \implies and \iff come from amsmath and add wider spacing, which reads better between whole statements.

For an arrow with text on it, \xrightarrow{above} and \xrightarrow[below]{above} grow with the label. They are part of amsmath. For commutative diagrams with arrows in several directions, the tikz-cd package is the usual tool.

Arrows in normal text

Arrow commands are math-mode only. In a sentence write $\rightarrow$ , or use \textrightarrow (and \textleftarrow, \textuparrow, \textdownarrow) from textcomp, which recent LaTeX loads automatically.

LaTeX

Step 1 $\rightarrow$ Step 2
Step 1 \textrightarrow{} Step 2

Common mistakes

LaTeX prints -> as a minus sign and a greater-than sign, not an arrow.
Instead of
```
A -> B
```
Write
```
A \to B
```
The double arrow means implication. A function between sets uses the single arrow \to.
Instead of
```
\Rightarrow  % for a function f: A => B
```
Write
```
f \colon A \to B
```
Extensible arrows and \implies / \iff are amsmath commands and are undefined without it.
Instead of
```
\xrightarrow{f}  % without amsmath
```
Write
```
\usepackage{amsmath}
```
\overset places the label over a fixed-length arrow, so long labels overhang. \xrightarrow stretches the arrow to fit.
Instead of
```
\overset{f}{\rightarrow}
```
Write
```
\xrightarrow{f}
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
The basic arrows work without packages; \implies, \iff, \xrightarrow and \xleftarrow need amsmath. \rightleftharpoons is built in; more chemistry arrows come from mhchem (\ce{A <=> B}).
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax and KaTeX support all arrows in the table, including \xrightarrow. MathJax also has \longleftrightarrow and the harpoons. tikz-cd diagrams do not work on the web; MathJax offers a simpler amscd (\begin{CD}) instead.
Microsoft Word
In a Word equation, Math AutoCorrect converts names like \rightarrow and \Rightarrow into arrows when you press Space. For labeled arrows or longer formulas, build them here and use Copy for Word.

Arrows in LaTeX: questions

How do I write a right arrow in LaTeX?: Use \rightarrow or its short form \to in math mode: $A \to B$ . For ⇒ use \Rightarrow.
What is the difference between \Rightarrow and \implies?: They mean the same thing. \implies (amsmath) is a longer arrow with extra space on both sides, meant for implications between statements; \Rightarrow is a normal-width relation symbol.
How do I put text above an arrow?: Use \xrightarrow{text} from amsmath; \xrightarrow[below]{above} adds text underneath too. The arrow grows to fit.
How do I write a double-headed (two-way) arrow?: Use \leftrightarrow for ↔, \Leftrightarrow for ⇔, and \iff for the long ⟺ with extra spacing.

Related LaTeX reference

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How to Write an Arrow in LaTeX

Arrow commands

Try it live

Arrows examples

Function signature

Limit notation

Implication chain

Equivalence

Labeled arrow

Maps to

Chemical equilibrium

Vector arrow over letters

Which arrow to use

Arrows in normal text

Common mistakes

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX

MathJax and KaTeX

Microsoft Word

Arrows in LaTeX: questions

Related LaTeX reference

Have the formula as a picture?