TypstDocumentation

refElement
Question mark

A reference to a label or bibliography.

The reference function produces a textual reference to a label. For example, a reference to a heading will yield an appropriate string such as "Section 1" for a reference to the first heading. The references are also links to the respective element. Reference syntax can also be used to cite from a bibliography.

Referenceable elements include headings, figures, and equations. To create a custom referenceable element like a theorem, you can create a figure of a custom kind and write a show rule for it. In the future, there might be a more direct way to define a custom referenceable element.

If you just want to link to a labelled element and not get an automatic textual reference, consider using the link function instead.

Example

#set heading(numbering: "1.")
#set math.equation(numbering: "(1)")

= Introduction <intro>
Recent developments in
typesetting software have
rekindled hope in previously
frustrated researchers. @distress
As shown in @results, we ...

= Results <results>
We discuss our approach in
comparison with others.

== Performance <perf>
@slow demonstrates what slow
software looks like.
$ O(n) = 2^n $ <slow>

#bibliography("works.bib")
Preview

Syntax

This function also has dedicated syntax: A reference to a label can be created by typing an @ followed by the name of the label (e.g. = Introduction <intro> can be referenced by typing @intro).

To customize the supplement, add content in square brackets after the reference: @intro[Chapter].

Customization

If you write a show rule for references, you can access the referenced element through the element field of the reference. The element may be none even if it exists if Typst hasn't discovered it yet, so you always need to handle that case in your code.

#set heading(numbering: "1.")
#set math.equation(numbering: "(1)")

#show ref: it => {
  let eq = math.equation
  let el = it.element
  if el != none and el.func() == eq {
    // Override equation references.
    numbering(
      el.numbering,
      ..counter(eq).at(el.location())
    )
  } else {
    // Other references as usual.
    it
  }
}

= Beginnings <beginning>
In @beginning we prove @pythagoras.
$ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 $ <pythagoras>
Preview

Parameters
Question mark

ref(
label,supplement: noneautocontentfunction,
) -> content

target
label
RequiredPositional
Question mark

The target label that should be referenced.

supplement
none or auto or content or function
Settable
Question mark

A supplement for the reference.

For references to headings or figures, this is added before the referenced number. For citations, this can be used to add a page number.

Default: auto

#set heading(numbering: "1.")
#set ref(supplement: it => {
  if it.func() == heading {
    "Chapter"
  } else {
    "Thing"
  }
})

= Introduction <intro>
In @intro, we see how to turn
Sections into Chapters. And
in @intro[Part], it is done
manually.
Preview