A table of contents is a clickable list at the start of your document that jumps readers to each section

Most document editors—Google Docs, Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and others—can build a table of contents automatically if you format your headings correctly. The editor reads your heading styles, pulls them into a list, and turns them into links. When someone clicks a heading in that list, they jump straight to that section in the document. You do not type it manually.

The process takes about two minutes once your headings are set up. The payoff is real: readers can scan your structure without scrolling, and if you move a section, the table of contents updates itself.

Key Takeaways

  • A table of contents works only if your headings use the editor's built-in heading styles, not just bold text or larger font.
  • Google Docs, Word, and LibreOffice all generate tables of contents automatically from properly formatted headings.
  • Once you insert a table of contents, it updates itself when you add, remove, or rename sections.
  • The table of contents sits at the beginning of your document, usually after the title page or introduction.

Format your headings with heading styles, not bold or font size

The first step is the one most people skip, and it is why their table of contents does not work. You must use your editor's heading styles—not just make text bold or bigger. Heading styles are built-in formats that tell the editor "this is a heading" so it can find and list them.

In Google Docs, select a line of text and open the style menu (it usually says "Normal text" by default). Choose "Heading 1" for your main sections, "Heading 2" for subsections under those, and "Heading 3" for sub-subsections if you have them. In Microsoft Word, the process is the same: select text, then click the heading style in the Home tab. In LibreOffice Writer, use the Format menu or the style sidebar on the left.

If you have already written your document with bold text instead of styles, go back and reformat. Select each heading, explore the correct heading style, and move on. It takes longer than doing it right the first time, but a table of contents that actually works is worth it.

Insert the table of contents in the right location

Place your table of contents near the beginning of the document—after a title page or introduction, but before the main content starts. Click where you want it to appear, then use your editor's menu to insert it.

In Google Docs, go to Insert > Table of Contents and choose a style (a straightforward numbered list or a fancier design with dots leading to page numbers). In Word, go to References > Table of Contents and pick a style. In LibreOffice, go to Insert > Table of Contents and Configure. Each editor offers a few visual options; pick whichever one matches your document's tone.

The editor will scan your document, find every heading, and drop the list into that spot. It happens when ready. If you have not formatted your headings yet, the table of contents will be empty or incomplete—go back and fix your heading styles first.

Update the table of contents when you change your document

After you insert a table of contents, it does not update on its own every time you type. But updating it is straightforward and takes one click. In Google Docs, click anywhere in the table of contents and a refresh icon appears; click it. In Word, right-click the table of contents and select "Update Field". In LibreOffice, right-click it and choose "Update Index".

Update your table of contents whenever you add a new section, delete one, or change a heading's wording. If you are working on a long document over several days, update it before you share or print. Readers will see the current structure, not an outdated one.

Use heading levels consistently so the table of contents reads clearly

A table of contents is only useful if it shows the real structure of your document. That means using heading levels in order: Heading 1 for main sections, Heading 2 for subsections, Heading 3 for sub-subsections. Do not skip levels—do not jump from Heading 1 straight to Heading 3. Do not use Heading 2 for a main section just because you like how it looks.

When you follow this pattern, your table of contents will be indented to show which sections are nested inside which. A reader scanning it will understand at a glance how your ideas connect. If your levels are random, the table of contents becomes confusing and defeats its purpose.

If you want a heading to look different without changing its level, change the style's appearance instead. Most editors let you customize how Heading 1 or Heading 2 looks—font, size, color—without breaking the structure.

Make your table of contents clickable if you are sharing a digital document

If you are sharing your document as a PDF or sending it as a Word file, the table of contents should have clickable links. Most editors do this automatically when you insert a table of contents. Test it: open the document, click a heading in the table of contents, and see if it jumps to that section.

In Google Docs, links work by default when you read as PDF. In Word, links work in the .docx file itself and in PDFs created from it. In LibreOffice, check that "Create hyperlinks" is turned on when you insert the table of contents (it usually is). If links are not working, regenerate the table of contents and try again.

For printed documents, a clickable table of contents does not matter—readers will just use page numbers. But for anything people will read on screen, working links make a real difference in usability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have a very short document—do I need a table of contents?

No. A table of contents makes sense for documents longer than five or six pages, where readers benefit from seeing the structure upfront. For shorter documents, it adds clutter. Use your judgment based on how someone will actually read it.

Can I manually edit the table of contents after I insert it?

You can, but do not. If you edit it by hand and then update it, your changes disappear. Instead, edit the headings in your document and regenerate the table of contents. That way your list always matches your actual content.

Why does my table of contents show only some of my headings?

You probably formatted some headings with styles and others with bold or font size. Go through your document and make sure every heading uses the correct heading style. Then regenerate the table of contents.

Can I have multiple levels of headings in my table of contents?

Yes. If you use Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 styles, your table of contents will show all three levels, indented to show which ones are nested. Most editors let you choose how many levels to display—you can hide Heading 3 if it makes the list too long.

Does the table of contents include page numbers?

It can. When you insert a table of contents, your editor usually offers a style option that includes page numbers. Choose that style if you want readers to see both the heading and the page it appears on. For digital documents, page numbers matter less because links do the work.