# Hypertext Help with LaTeX
\label

`\label{key}`

A `\label` command appearing in ordinary text assigns to the `key` the number of the current sectional unit; one appearing inside a numbered environment assigns that number to the `key`.

A `key` can consist of any sequence of letters, digits, or punctuation characters. Upper- and lowercase letters are different.

The number assigned to the key can be accessed by use of the `\ref` command. For example,

     \begin{equation} ....
       ....
     \label{eq:no1}
     \end{equation}
     ...
     One can see from Eq.~(\ref{eq:no1}) that ...

In a table or figure environment, the `\label` command should follow the `\caption` command (or be part of its argument) since it is the `\caption` command which generates the number.

The `\label` command is fragile but it can be used in the argument of a sectioning command or `\caption` command.

See also Cross References
See also `\ref`, `\pageref`
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