\cline vs. \hline: What’s the Difference?

In LaTeX, \cline and \hline are commands used to draw horizontal lines in tables. Understanding their differences is crucial for creating well-formatted tables in your documents. Here’s a guide on \cline vs. \hline.

\cline vs. \hline in LaTeX:

The \cline command is used to draw a horizontal line that spans only specific columns within a row, whereas \hline command is used to draw a horizontal line across the entire width of the table.

‘\hline’ Command:

The \hline command is used to draw a horizontal line across the entire width of the table. It is typically placed between rows to separate them visually. Here’s an example:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

\begin{table}[]
    \centering
\begin{tabular}{ccc}
        \hline
        \textbf{City} & \textbf{Country} & \textbf{Currency} \\
        \hline
        Tokyo & Japan & Japanese Yen (JPY) \\
        \hline
        Paris & France & Euro (EUR) \\
        \hline
        New York City & United States & US Dollar (USD) \\
        \hline
    \end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

Output

In this example, \hline creates horizontal lines at the top of the table and between each row.

‘\cline’ Command:

The \cline command is used to draw a partial horizontal line that spans only specific columns. It is placed within the row and specifies the range of columns to cover. Here’s an example:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

\begin{table}[]
    \centering
\begin{tabular}{ccc}
        \hline
        \textbf{City} & \textbf{Country} & \textbf{Currency} \\
        \cline{2-3}
        Tokyo & Japan & Japanese Yen (JPY) \\
        \hline
        Paris & France & Euro (EUR) \\
        \cline{1-1}
        New York City & United States & US Dollar (USD) \\
        \hline
    \end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

Output

In this example, \cline{2-3} creates a horizontal line that spans from the second to the third column. \cline{1-1} creates a horizontal line that spans the first column. This is useful when you want to emphasize a subset of columns in a row.

\cline vs. \hline: Key Differences

Scope:

• \hline spans the entire width of the table.
• \cline spans a specified range of columns within a row.

Usage:

• \hline is generally used between rows to separate them.
• \cline is used within a row to emphasize specific columns.

Syntax:

• \hline doesn’t require any arguments; it’s placed between rows.
• \cline{start-end} specifies the starting and ending columns for the line.

Example:

• \hline draws a line across all columns.
• \cline{2-4} draws a line from the second to the fourth column.

Important points

1. Combine for Complex Tables: You can use both commands in the same table for more complex formatting.

2. Vertical Lines: Be cautious when using vertical lines in combination with \cline as it may result in visual artifacts. Consider using the booktabs package for a more professional look without vertical lines.

Conclusion

I hope you understand the basic difference between both commands. By understanding the differences and use cases for \hline and \cline, you can effectively create well-structured and visually appealing tables in your LaTeX documents.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us