cleveref

cleveref is a LaTeX package that enhances cross-referencing by automatically selecting the appropriate name for each reference type (such as Figure, Table, Equation, or Theorem) and by supporting multiple references and ranges. It is designed to work with hyperref to produce clickable links and is compatible with amsmath and common theorem-like environments.

Key features include the \cref and \Cref commands for lowercase and capitalized references, automatic pluralization, and context-sensitive formatting. It can reference several labels at once, producing consolidated phrases such as “Figures 1–3” or “Equations (1)–(3)” with consistent punctuation. It also allows customization of the reference names through \crefname and \Crefname.

Usage is straightforward: in the preamble, load the package with \usepackage{cleveref}. It is common to load hyperref first and then cleveref to enable clickable references. In the text, reference labels with \cref, and use \Cref for a sentence-initial form. Examples: \cref{fig:sample} yields “Figure 1”; \cref{eq:first,eq:second} yields “Equations (1) and (2)”.

Customization and behavior can be adjusted with additional options. The names used for each reference type can be changed with \crefname{type}{singular}{plural} and \Crefname{type}{Singular}{Plural}. The formatting can be tuned with \creflabelformat and \crefrangeformat. It is designed to be compatible with standard environments and with amsthm, and can be extended to nonstandard environments via user-defined names.

Cleveref is maintained as part of the LaTeX ecosystem and is distributed via CTAN. It remains widely used for producing clear and consistent cross-references across documents with multiple figure, table, and theorem-like environments.