How to Use Subscript in LaTeX: A Complete Guide

Subscript text appears below the baseline — think chemical formulas like H₂O, mathematical variables like x₁, or index notation in equations. LaTeX handles subscript with precision that word processors rarely match, but the syntax behaves differently depending on where and how you're writing. Here's what you need to know.

The Basic Subscript Syntax

In LaTeX, the underscore character _ is the subscript operator. Inside math mode, it tells LaTeX to render the following character or group below the baseline.