Documents · .tex
What Is a TEX File?
A .tex file is the source text of a LaTeX document, used for academic papers.
- Extension
- .tex
- Full name
- LaTeX source document
- Type
- Document
- MIME type
- application/x-tex
- Developed by
- Donald Knuth (TeX), Leslie Lamport (LaTeX)
Free TEX Tools
These run in your browser. Your TEX files are never uploaded.
About TEX Files
A .tex file contains the source of a document written in LaTeX, a typesetting system widely used for scientific papers, theses and books, especially those with mathematical formulas. The file is plain text mixed with commands such as \section and \begin{equation}. To get a finished document, you compile it with a TeX distribution, which produces a PDF. Overleaf lets you edit and compile LaTeX in a browser without installing anything.
How to Open a TEX File
- Any device
- Open it in a text editor to read the source, or upload it to Overleaf to compile it into a PDF.
- Windows
- Install MiKTeX, MacTeX or TeX Live, and use an editor such as TeXstudio or VS Code with LaTeX Workshop.
TEX File Questions
How do I turn a .tex file into a PDF?
Compile it with pdflatex or another LaTeX engine, or upload it to Overleaf and click Recompile.
Can Word open .tex files?
Only as plain text. Word can't typeset LaTeX, so you would see the commands rather than the formatted document.