Table of Contents
A table of contents is a navigational front-matter element built from document structure. In Word, an automatic TOC is generated from headings and can be refreshed after edits; exact formatting and required levels remain document- or house-style choices.
Build a table of contents from real heading styles where the software supports it, then update the generated list after headings, levels or pagination change.
Key details
Important caveats
Style Boundary
Leader dots, displayed heading depth, wording and placement are template or house-style decisions; the Microsoft automation details apply specifically to Word.
Further guidance
Maintenance
Where the authoring tool supports automatic generation, update the table of contents after structural or pagination changes instead of manually repairing entries.
Practical Application
Build the table of contents from real heading levels when the authoring tool supports it, then refresh it after headings, hierarchy, or pagination changes.
Reader Check
Does every TOC entry correspond to an actual heading at the intended level, and has the generated list been updated after the last structural edit?
Structure
Use genuine heading levels so the contents list reflects the document hierarchy rather than manually typed lookalike headings.
Worked Example
Example: use Heading 1 for chapter titles and Heading 2 for subsections, generate the TOC from those styles, then update the TOC after moving a subsection to a new page.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Insert a table of contents — Microsoft Support (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Support · Automatic table-of-contents generation from heading structure and updating behavior