Brackets in LaTeX

Parentheses and square brackets are typed directly: (x), [x]. Curly braces need a backslash: \{x\}, and angle brackets are \langle x \rangle. To make brackets grow with tall content write \left( and \right) around it, or pick a size with \big, \Big, \bigg or \Bigg.

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Bracket types

(x)\ [x]
$(x) [x]$
Round and square brackets, typed directly.
\{x\}
${x}$
Curly braces; plain { } group code and print nothing.
\langle x \rangle
$⟨ x ⟩$
Angle brackets (not the < and > signs).
\lvert x \rvert\ \lVert x \rVert
$| x | ‖ x ‖$
Single and double bars for absolute value and norm.
\lfloor x \rfloor\ \lceil x \rceil
$⌊ x ⌋ ⌈ x ⌉$
Floor and ceiling.
\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)
$(\frac{a}{b})$
Brackets sized to the content.
\big( \Big( \bigg( \Bigg(
$(((($
Four fixed sizes, larger each step.

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LaTeX

Templates

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Brackets and parentheses examples

Each result below is drawn from the LaTeX under it. Copy the code, edit it on this page, or open it in the full editor.

Auto-sized parentheses
$(\frac{x^{2}}{2})$
LaTeX
```
\left( \frac{x^2}{2} \right)
```
Edit here Open in editor
Fixed sizes compared
$((((($
LaTeX
```
( \big( \Big( \bigg( \Bigg(
```
Edit here Open in editor
Set-builder with a middle bar
${\frac{p}{q} | p, q \in Z, q \neq 0}$
LaTeX
```
\left\{ \frac{p}{q} \;\middle|\; p, q \in \mathbb{Z},\ q \neq 0 \right\}
```
Edit here Open in editor
Evaluation bar
${\frac{d}{d x} x^{2} |}_{x = 3} = 6$
LaTeX
```
\left. \frac{d}{dx} x^2 \right|_{x=3} = 6
```
Edit here Open in editor
Inner product
$⟨ u, v ⟩ = \sum_{i} u_{i} v_{i}$
LaTeX
```
\langle u, v \rangle = \sum_i u_i v_i
```
Edit here Open in editor
Nested brackets
$[(a + b) c]^{2}$
LaTeX
```
\Bigl[ \bigl( a + b \bigr) c \Bigr]^2
```
Edit here Open in editor

\left … \right

Every \left needs a matching \right in the same line of the formula; use \left. or \right. for an invisible side, as in the evaluation bar. \middle| adds a bar that grows with the pair.

\left and \right sometimes make brackets too large or add space before the opening bracket after a function name. For a precise look, choose the size with \bigl … \bigr (the l and r tell LaTeX which side is which).

Braces that span a formula

To label part of a formula with a horizontal brace, use \underbrace{…}_{\text{label}} or \overbrace{…}^{\text{label}}. For a brace on the left of several lines, use the cases environment.

Common mistakes

Unescaped braces only group; they print nothing.
Instead of
```
{x \mid x > 0}
```
Write
```
\{x \mid x > 0\}
```
Less-than and greater-than signs are relations with wide spacing, not brackets.
Instead of
```
<u, v>
```
Write
```
\langle u, v \rangle
```
\left and \right cannot cross a line break; split them or use \bigl/\bigr on each line.
Instead of
```
\left( \frac{a}{b} \\ c \right)
```
Write
```
\left( \frac{a}{b} \right) \\ c
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
All commands work in math mode without packages; \lvert, \rvert, \lVert, \rVert need amsmath.
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax and KaTeX support \left, \right, \middle, and the \big family.
Microsoft Word
In a Word equation, brackets typed around a fraction grow automatically; Insert › Equation › Bracket offers the other shapes.

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Brackets and parentheses in LaTeX: questions

How do I write curly braces in LaTeX?: \{ and \}, or \lbrace and \rbrace.
How do I make big parentheses?: Wrap the content in \left( … \right), or choose a size with \big(, \Big(, \bigg( or \Bigg(.
Why do I get "Missing \right. inserted"?: A \left has no matching \right. Add one, using \right. if no bracket should show.

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Brackets in LaTeX

Bracket types

Try it live

Brackets and parentheses examples

Auto-sized parentheses

Fixed sizes compared

Set-builder with a middle bar

Evaluation bar

Inner product

Nested brackets