Inhaltsverzeichnis

Inhaltsverzeichnis is the German term for the table of contents. It is a navigational list at the beginning of a book or document that enumerates the work’s chapters, sections, and sometimes subsections, with the corresponding page numbers. It helps readers locate material quickly and understand the work’s overall structure.

In practice, the Inhaltsverzeichnis appears after the title page and any front matter. It typically presents a hierarchical arrangement, with main divisions labeled as chapters (Kapitel) and subordinate parts as sections (Abschnitt) or subsections. Page numbers are aligned on the right and may be connected to entries by dot leaders. In German typography, entries are often capitalized and the layout follows the publisher’s style guide, though conventions vary.

In digital production, the Inhaltsverzeichnis is usually generated automatically by word processors or typesetting systems. In LaTeX, the table of contents command creates it; modern readers can click entries in PDFs to jump to the relevant pages. In many German-language works, preliminary pages may use roman numerals, while the main text uses Arabic numerals, with the page numbers appearing in the upper or lower margins.

Related lists include Abbildungsverzeichnis (list of figures) and Tabellenverzeichnis (list of tables). The Inhaltsverzeichnis is a standard element of formal publications in German and serves similar functions to the table of contents in other languages.