contents

Contents is a noun that denotes the items or material contained within something. It can describe physical items inside a container, such as the contents of a box, bag, or bottle. It can also refer to the subject matter included in a document, book, film, or other work, for example the contents of a report or the contents of a library collection. In shipping and inventory, the contents are often listed on packing lists or manifests.

In publishing and information design, contents is often used to indicate a list of chapters or sections, found on a table of contents or contents page. In digital contexts, content (singular) is usually preferred when referring to information, media, or experiences delivered by a website or app; contents may describe discrete items within a larger digital structure, such as the contents of a folder or archive.

The table of contents helps readers navigate the work and understand its organization. It typically includes section titles and page numbers or links. Similar navigational structures—such as document outlines, menus, and content catalogs—perform the same function in software and web interfaces.

Etymology and usage notes: contents derives from content, from Latin continere to hold together. In modern English, contents is most common for tangible or discrete items inside something, or the subject matter of a work. The singular content is used when treating content as a mass or abstract material, or when referring to digital media as a whole.