Prettier Plugin for LaTeX

2.0.1 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

Prettier plugin for formatting LaTeX source files. Version 2.0.1 supports Prettier v3 (ESM) and requires Node >= 18. Uses the @unified-latex/unified-latex-prettier library for parsing LaTeX into an AST, enabling smart formatting of environments, math mode, and macros. Notable caveats: Prettier v3 dropped automatic plugin resolution (must specify --plugin), and the plugin cannot parse arbitrary TeX — it assumes standard LaTeX. Online playground available.

Common errors

error Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: require() of ES Module /path/to/node_modules/prettier-plugin-latex/dist/index.js from /path/to/project not supported. ↓

cause Using require() with an ESM-only package.

fix

Change to import or use dynamic import. Ensure your project is ESM (type: module) or use .mjs files.

error Cannot find module 'prettier-plugin-latex' ↓

cause Prettier v3 does not automatically resolve plugins; missing --plugin flag or plugins array in config.

fix

Add '--plugin=prettier-plugin-latex' or '--plugin=./node_modules/prettier-plugin-latex/dist/index.js' to the prettier CLI command.

error TypeError: prettier.format is not a function ↓

cause Using require() of default export from ESM module.

fix

Use dynamic import or switch to ESM: import prettier from 'prettier';

error SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token (prettier-plugin-latex fails to parse file) ↓

cause The plugin expects standard LaTeX; non-standard syntax may cause parse failure.

fix

Avoid using custom macros or non-standard LaTeX constructs. Simplify the document to match standard LaTeX.

Warnings

breaking Prettier v3 removed automatic plugin resolution. You must explicitly pass --plugin=... or include plugins: [...] in config. ↓

fix Add --plugin=node_modules/prettier-plugin-latex/dist/index.js when running prettier on the command line, or include 'prettier-plugin-latex' in the plugins array of your config.

breaking Prettier v3 dropped CommonJS support (CJS). This plugin is now ESM-only. ↓

fix Switch to ESM imports or use dynamic import(). For scripts, change 'type': 'module' in package.json or use .mjs extension.

gotcha The plugin cannot parse arbitrary TeX; it assumes standard LaTeX. Non-standard macros or unexpanded conditionals may cause formatting errors or no output. ↓

fix Ensure your document follows typical LaTeX syntax. For complex macros, consider preprocessing or using a different formatter.

deprecated printPrettier from standalone may become unstable; prefer programmatic usage via prettier.format(). ↓

fix Use prettier.format() with the plugin loaded as shown in the quickstart.

Install

npm install prettier-plugin-latex

yarn add prettier-plugin-latex

pnpm add prettier-plugin-latex

Imports

default

wrong

const prettier = require('prettier')

correct

import prettier from 'prettier'

Prettier v3 is ESM-only; require() will fail.

printPrettier

wrong

import { printPrettier } from 'prettier-plugin-latex'

correct

import { printPrettier } from 'prettier-plugin-latex/standalone'

The browser standalone function is in a separate module path.

plugin
wrong
```
const plugin = require('prettier-plugin-latex')
```
correct
```
import * as plugin from 'prettier-plugin-latex'
```
For Prettier v3, use --plugin with ESM path (e.g., node_modules/prettier-plugin-latex/dist/index.js).

Quickstart

Shows how to format LaTeX using prettier-plugin-latex programmatically with Prettier v3 ESM import.

import prettier from 'prettier';
import * as plugin from 'prettier-plugin-latex';

const code = `\begin{enumerate}
    \item[55,4] Hi there
\end{enumerate}`;

prettier.format(code, {
  parser: 'latex',
  plugins: [plugin],
  tabWidth: 4,
  printWidth: 80
}).then(result => console.log(result));