Table of contents facts for kids

A table of contents (often called "Contents") is like a map for a book or document. It lists all the main parts of the work in the order they appear. This list usually includes the titles of chapters or main sections. For longer books, it might also show smaller sections within those chapters.

The amount of detail in a table of contents depends on how long the work is. Very long books might have less detail to keep the list from getting too big. Formal reports, which are usually ten pages or more, also have a table of contents. Shorter documents, under ten pages, don't always need one, but they might have a small list of contents at the start.

Where to Find It

In English books, the table of contents is usually at the very beginning. However, in French and Spanish books, you might find it at the back, near the index.

Magazines and journals often put their table of contents right on the front cover. If it's too long to fit, it might continue on the back cover. For very long documents with many detailed sections, a main table of contents can be at the front. Then, more detailed tables of contents might appear at the start of each major part or chapter.

In an English book, the table of contents usually comes after the title page, copyright notices, and any abstract. It appears before lists of tables or figures, the foreword, and the preface.

What's Inside

Printed tables of contents show the page numbers where each part begins. Online versions offer links you can click to jump directly to each section. The way page numbers are shown is a style choice made by the publisher.

Sometimes, dots or periods (called leaders) connect the chapter title to its page number. Other times, the page number is simply placed close to the title. In some cases, the page number might even appear before the text.

If a book has chapters, articles, or stories written by different people, the author's name usually appears in the table of contents too. Sometimes, instead of subheadings, a table of contents might include a short description of what each chapter or section is about.

Pages that come before the table of contents, like the title page, are usually not listed in the table of contents itself. However, all pages (except the outside cover) are counted. The table of contents page often has a small Roman numeral page number, like "i" or "v".

Examples of Contents

Here are some ways a table of contents can look:

With Leaders (Dots)

This example uses dots to guide your eye from the title to the page number. Chapter 1: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Next Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Without Leaders

This example shows the page numbers closer to the titles, without dots. Chapter 1: Getting Started 1 Introduction 2 Next Steps 3

With Authors Listed

If different people write parts of the book, their names can be included. 1. Introduction to Biology Arthur C. Smith 1 2. Microbiology Susan Jones 10 3. Advances in Biotechnology T.C. Chang 24

With Descriptions

Sometimes, a short description explains what each chapter covers. Chapter 1 3 In which we first meet our hero and heroine, attend a gala feast, and begin an unexpected journey.

Chapter 2 12 The journey takes an unusual turn, and new villainy is discovered.

See also

• In Spanish: Sumario para niños