latex-tables

When to use this skill:

• Creating tables with fixed-width columns

• Formatting complex table layouts

• Need precise column alignment

• Migrating from tabular/tabularx/longtable/booktabs

• Troubleshooting table overflow issues

Why tabularray?

Modern LaTeX3 package (replaces old solutions):

• Fixed-width columns with proper alignment

• Clean, consistent syntax

• Replaces: tabular, tabularx, longtable, booktabs

• Better performance than legacy packages

• Part of TeX Live 2025

Installation

# Check if installed
kpsewhich tabularray.sty

# If not found, install:
sudo tlmgr install tabularray

Basic Usage

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tabularray}  % Modern table package

\begin{document}
% Simple table
\begin{tblr}{colspec={ccc}, hlines, vlines}
  Header 1 & Header 2 & Header 3 \\
  Data 1   & Data 2   & Data 3   \\
\end{tblr}
\end{document}

Quick Reference Card

% Minimal table
\begin{tblr}{colspec={ccc}}
  A & B & C \\
\end{tblr}

% With all lines
\begin{tblr}{colspec={ccc}, hlines, vlines}
  A & B & C \\
\end{tblr}

% Fixed widths
\begin{tblr}{colspec={Q[2cm] Q[3cm] Q[2cm]}, hlines}
  A & B & C \\
\end{tblr}

% Bold header
\begin{tblr}{
  colspec={ccc},
  row{1}={font=\bfseries}
}
  Header & Header & Header \\
  Data   & Data   & Data   \\
\end{tblr}

Best Practices

• Use Q[width] for fixed columns instead of p{width}

• Specify widths explicitly when text might overflow

• Use X for flexible columns that should expand

• Style headers with row{1} instead of manual formatting

• Use colspec for column properties, not inline commands

• Check package version: kpsewhich tabularray.sty (should be recent)

Reference Documentation

For detailed information, see:

• Table Patterns - 5 common table patterns with examples

• Column Specification - Alignment options and width control

• Lines and Borders - All lines, selective lines, thick lines

• Troubleshooting - Table too wide, text not wrapping, alignment issues

• Migration - Migrating from tabular and tabularx

Official Docs: Run texdoc tabularray for complete package documentation

See Also:

• Use latex/setup skill for installing tabularray package

• Use latex/build skill for compilation workflows