# Hypertext Help with LaTeX
Declarations

A declaration is a LaTeX command that does not act on an argument, but which changes the way LaTeX prints the following text or which changes the value or meaning of some command or counter.

## Scope

The scope of a declaration begins with the declaration command itself and is ended by the first right brace (`}`) or `\end{}` command whose matching left brace (`{`) or `\begin{}` precedes the declaration. However, the `\begin{}` and `\end{}` of environments you create yourself, for example, with the `\newenvironment` command, do not count for calculating the scope of declarations.

The declaration is in effect within its scope, exept that it may be countermanded by another declaration whose scope is a subset.

However, some declarations are global; they are in effect until countermanded by another declaration. They include

- `\addtocounter`
- `\newcounter`
- `\setcounter`
- `\pagenumbering`
- `\thispagestyle`
- `\newlength`
- `\newsavebox`
- `\newtheorem`

Every declaration has an environment of the same name. If `\decl` is a declaration command, then

       {\decl .... }

can also be effected by

       \begin{decl} .... \end{decl}

If the declaration takes arguments these become additional arguments of the `\begin` command.

See also Environments
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